[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 43, Number 9 (Monday, March 5, 2007)]
[Pages 221-222]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks Following a Meeting With President Elias Antonio Saca Gonzalez 
of El Salvador

February 27, 2007

    President Bush. Puesta bienvenidos a mi amigo, el Presidente de 
nuestro amigo de El Salvador. Gracias. Thanks for coming. We spent a lot 
of time talking together, because I value the advice of the President.
    We talked about a lot of subjects. We talked about the fact that the 
first year of the trade agreement between the United States and El 
Salvador is coming up. And the President told me that a lot of people 
are benefiting--a lot of people in his country are benefiting from the 
opportunity presented by trade. And I told him that people in our 
country benefit from the relationship. Under his leadership, the economy 
of El Salvador is strong. And I congratulate you for your leadership.
    We talked about interesting opportunities available. And one, of 
course, is biofuels. We both recognize that the development of biofuels 
is in our national interests. And I thank you for your vision.
    We talked about the Millennium Challenge Account that the President 
has ably led. And it's going to enable people in the northern part of 
his country to realize the benefits of free trade and commercialism.
    I expressed my concerns and our condolences about the three 
gentlemen who were recently assassinated, which led us into a broad 
discussion about security and my desire to help the President deal with 
security issues.
    And finally, the President reminded me that TPS expires next 
September. Every time he comes to the Oval Office, he's expressed his 
deep concern and strong support for his citizens that may be here in our 
country. And I assured him that I was openminded to his request, but 
more importantly, I'm working hard to get a comprehensive bill, 
immigration bill passed out of the United States Congress.
    And so once again, we had a substantial and meaningful conversation. 
And that's what you expect when you have two friends together. Gracias, 
senor.
    President Saca Gonzalez. Thank you very much, Mr. President.
    We have talked extensively with the President on varied--array of 
issues. And I spoke to President Bush about how meaningful his trip to 
Latin America is going to be, because this is going to give a signal 
that the United States is interested in Latin America.
    President Bush. Thank you, sir.
    President Saca Gonzalez. We have talked about free trade. On March 
1st, the CAFTA agreement that is with El Salvador with the United States 
of America is going to be one year old. And during this year, we have 
increased in 20 percent all our exports. And our economy has doubled its 
size. So there's no doubt that free trade has allowed this to become 
true.
    We have also talked about the Millennium Account, and the project to 
develop the northern part of El Salvador is going to be a complete 
success, and very soon, we're going to have the first disbursements 
made. And we wanted that to be--the project of the development of the 
northern part of our country to become a success story for the 
Millennium Account.
    We also talked about the TPS with President Bush today. And the 
President always has a very positive answer for El Salvador. But more 
importantly, today is the comprehensive immigration reform. And we will 
have to wait and see what happens between the Executive and the Congress 
of the United States. We have more than 2 million Salvadorans living 
here in the United States. The majority are legal citizens; many are 
already North Americans. And the President has always been very 
sensitive to this issue of the Salvadorans here, for which I feel very 
grateful.
    President Bush. Thank you.
    President Saca Gonzalez. We talked about regional security and its 
importance, and also the combat to drug dealing and the combat to the 
gangs. And we have found many points of coincidence with the President.
    And we also talked with the President about biofuels and the 
importance of biofuels, and how necessary it is, you know, to develop 
biofuels in the region so that we need less gas and less oil to have our 
cars

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run. And in El Salvador, we're about to pass a new law on biofuels, and 
it's almost ready. And we want to work hand-in-hand with President Bush 
for the development of these biofuels in the region.
    And anyway, I always feel so comfortable, you know, sitting down and 
talking with my good friend every time that I come here. Thank you for 
receiving me.
    President Bush. Gracias, senor. Gracias.
    President Saca Gonzalez. Gracias.
    President Bush. Thank you.

Note: The President spoke at 9:51 a.m. in the Oval Office at the White 
House. President Saca Gonzalez spoke in Spanish, and his remarks were 
translated by an interpreter.