[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 43, Number 39 (Monday, October 1, 2007)]
[Pages 1243-1244]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks Following Discussions With President Mahmoud Abbas of the 
Palestinian Authority in New York City

September 24, 2007

    President Bush. Mr. President, Prime Minister, members of your 
delegation, thank you for coming. I strongly support the creation of a 
Palestinian state. I believe it's in the interests of the Palestinian 
people. I believe it's in the interests of Israel to have a democracy 
living side by--democracies living side by side in peace.
    And the fundamental question that I ask is, is there leadership that 
share the vision and are willing to work hard to achieve the vision? And 
if the answer to that question is yes, the United States of America will 
be a strong partner in implementing the vision.
    I have known the President for quite a while. I am convinced that he 
is dedicated to the formation of a Palestinian democracy that will live 
with peace with their neighbor, Israel. And I believe the Prime Minister 
of Israel is dedicated to the same vision. And therefore, as I told the 
President, the United States of America will work as hard as we possibly 
can to help you achieve the vision, Mr. President.
    Condi Rice has been very engaged; Secretary Rice has been very 
engaged in the region. And when she speaks, she's speaking for me and my 
Government. And I appreciate you taking time to explain to me the 
hurdles you see, the role you'd like to see the United States play, and 
your dedication

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to a cause that is just and important. I appreciate the fact that you're 
fighting the extremists who don't share the same kind of view. And I 
believe that the vision of two states, side by side in peace, is 
achievable. And we want to help you realize that goal.
    So thank you for coming.
    President Abbas. Mr. President, thank you very much for receiving us 
here and for hosting us. We appreciate that very much. I would like to 
take this opportunity to confirm to you that we truly believe very 
strongly in the peace process, and we believe very strongly in your 
vision of establishing a Palestinian, independent, viable state that 
lives side by side with the State of Israel.
    Mr. President, these days we feel hopeful, and we feel and we sense 
the hope, especially after the call to convene an international meeting 
during the month of November. We believe that this meeting should deal 
with the substance and issues of substance that would lead to full 
negotiations on permanent status that would lead to a permanent peace 
and a peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians.
    And based on our belief of the seriousness of this call, both us and 
the Israelis have formed the teams that will work immediately in order 
to negotiate for the issues to be ready and ripe to take it one step 
further and be prepared and ready prior to the mid-November date for the 
convening of the meeting.
    I also take this opportunity to reaffirm again that we strongly 
believe in the roadmap, which includes your vision, Mr. President, as 
well as the Arab initiative. Collectively, together, I believe they 
represent a strong framework that would allow us and help us to 
negotiate the permanent status issues and reach an agreement on it.
    Therefore, Mr. President, we will continue to count on your work, on 
your support, and your serious efforts. We have faith and trust in all 
of this and believe that with the help of this, we'll be able to reach 
the just and durable peace in the Middle East.
    President Bush. Thank you, sir.

Note: The President spoke at 4:46 p.m. at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel. In 
his remarks, he referred to Prime Minister Salam Fayyad of the 
Palestinian Authority; and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert of Israel. 
President Abbas spoke in Arabic, and his remarks were translated by an 
interpreter.