    [Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 43, Number 39 (Monday, October 1, 2007)]
    [Pages 1244-1245]
    [Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    <R04>
    Remarks Following Discussions With President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva
    of Brazil in New York City

    September 24, 2007

        President Bush. It's a pleasure to be with my friend the President
    of Brazil. Every time we visit, it's always a fruitful and important
    discussion. We talked about climate change. And I assured the President
    that the event we're having in Washington--which he kindly is coming
    to--is an important meeting about reaching international consensus on
    how to move together on the issue of climate change.
        We talked about alternative fuels. Brazil, under President Lula's
    leadership, is a leading producer of ethanol. And he is an evangelist on
    the subject. And I appreciate very much his leadership, because I
    believe the United States will benefit from ethanol. And so I look
    forward to working with you. And I want to thank you for your leadership
    in Haiti.
        And finally, we had a good discussion on Doha. We share a commitment
    to a successful round of trade talks. And I assured the President that
    the United States would show flexibility, particularly on agricultural
    goods, in order to help achieve a breakthrough. So I want to thank you
    for the conversation. It's a joy being with you.
        President Lula. First of all, I would like to thank for the
    opportunity once again to be here with President Bush and with members
    of his Cabinet. Secondly, we are convinced that on the climate change
    and the Doha round, we're still dependent on some factors. And one of
    these factors is the willingness of an important country like the U.S.
    demonstrating its capability to be flexible.
        And President Bush has demonstrated the willingness to reach an
    agreement--in the many different conversations that we have had, he has
    demonstrated very clearly his willingness. And the U.S. is willing to be
    more flexible. And he's also willing to discuss with all countries on
    climate change. And this has been Brazil's position.

    [[Page 1245]]

        We are convinced that the Doha round is a need; it's something that
    is a necessity for the rich and for the poor countries. And we'll be--
    the rich and the developing countries could give a contribution for the
    less developed countries.

        And at the same time, the climate issue is an issue that involves
    all the human beings on the planet Earth. So all of us, we share
    responsibility to take care of the planet that we will leave for our
    grandsons and for our grand-grandsons. We don't want to try to find who
    to put the blame on or who is innocent. What matters is that everybody
    has to take care of the planet, because if we don't take of the planet
    Earth, we will all have something to lose.

        I once again told President Bush that Brazil is willing to do its
    share on the climate issue, as also to cope with what we have to cope
    with, from the deforestation of the rain forest in the Amazon, which we
    managed to reduce in 52 percent in the year.

        And on the Doha round, Brazil is willing to do whatever is necessary
    so that we can reach a deal very--[inaudible]. If we manage to convince
    important countries like China, India, South Africa, Argentina, Mexico,
    plus the European Union and Japan, I believe that we can, in the next
    phase, announce good measures as related to the Doha round, as also on
    the climate change.

        So what we are demonstrating is that the issue exists. No one has a
    definite solution. We are in--just in a learning process on how to cope
    with this issue. And we all want to do our homework. The demonstration
    of the political will President Bush has, and myself, is, we're sending
    a signal that no one owns the truth; everybody knows a little bit and
    doesn't know so much a little bit too. We want together to add up our
    knowledge so that we can find the best solutions. Thank you.

        President Bush. Thank you.

    Note: The President spoke at 6:48 p.m. at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel.
    President Lula da Silva spoke in Portuguese, and his remarks were
    translated by an interpreter.