[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 44, Number 2 (Monday, January 21, 2008)]
[Pages 64-65]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks at a Welcoming Ceremony in Manama, Bahrain

January 12, 2008

    Your Majesty, thank you very much for bestowing upon me the award. 
I'm most honored. I accept it on behalf of the people of the United 
States of America. I also thank you and the Crown Prince and the Prime 
Minister for your gracious hospitality. I am really honored to be the 
first U.S. sitting President to have visited your country. Perhaps I 
should say, it's about time.
    The American people have a long friendship with the people of 
Bahrain. For decades, Bahrain has welcomed the United States Navy and is 
now home to our 5th Fleet. Two years ago, I was pleased to sign 
legislation that strengthened our friendship and our relationship. It 
was the free trade agreement with Bahrain; it's America's first such 
agreement with any nation in the Gulf. This agreement is helping to pave 
way to freer and fairer trade between our countries so we can create 
jobs and opportunity and hope in both our lands.
    Our two nations share a common vision for the future of the Middle 
East. Through our alliance, we share the burdens and risks of 
maintaining security as well as defending freedom throughout the region. 
We also believe in the power of democratic reform.

[[Page 65]]

Your Majesty, I appreciate the fact that you're on the forefront of 
providing hope for people through democracy. Your nation has held two 
free elections since 2000. And in 2006, your people elected a woman to 
your parliament. Bahrain's reforms are making your nation stronger. 
You're showing strong leadership, and you're showing the way forward for 
other nations.
    Your Majesty, I look forward to our meetings later today. I look 
forward to discussing how we continue--can continue to advance peace in 
the Middle East. I look forward to sharing with you my experiences that 
I had in Israel and the Palestinian Territories. I look forward to 
talking about how we can continue to ensure security in the Gulf. 
Together we will continue to strengthen our friendship and our 
cooperation, and I'm proud to be with you, sir.

Note: The President spoke at 3:55 p.m. at Sakhir Palace. In his remarks, 
he referred to King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa, Crown Prince Shaikh Salman 
bin Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa, and Prime Minister Khalifa bin Salman al-
Khalifa of Bahrain. He also referred to Lateefa al-Geood, who was the 
first woman elected to the Council of Representatives of the National 
Assembly of Bahrain in 2006.