[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 44, Number 17 (Monday, May 5, 2008)]
[Pages 617-618]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks Following a Discussion With Special Representative of the United 
Nations Secretary-General for Afghanistan Kai Eide

April 29, 2008

    President Bush. I have just had a very constructive and important 
dialog with the United Nations envoy to Afghanistan. Mr. Ambassador, 
thank you so very much for coming to the Oval Office, and thank you so 
much for serving the cause of peace.
    Ambassador Eide. Thank you.
    President Bush. You've been given a very difficult job, which is to 
help coordinate world--the world's efforts to help this young democracy 
succeed. And I want to assure you that the United States Government and 
I personally support you in everything you're going to do.
    We've supported this--the creation of this position. We supported 
your nomination because you're a man of action, a man of determination, 
and a man willing to sacrifice to help the Karzai Government, but more 
importantly, help the people of Afghanistan realize the blessings of 
liberty.
    The Afghan theater in this war against the extremists is a vital 
part of making sure that peace prevails. And no question, there's 
challenges. As I told the Ambassador, if this were easy, we wouldn't 
have selected a man of his caliber to--or the U.N. wouldn't have 
selected a man of his caliber to take on the task.
    And so I appreciate your time. This is our first meeting, and I hope 
that--I know it won't be the last. He's given me good advice. He's given 
me a picture of what--on how the United States Government can help him 
accomplish his missions, and we're more than willing to help.
    And so I welcome you to the Oval Office. And thank you for your 
great service.
    Ambassador Eide. Thank you very much, Mr. President. For me, it's 
been an honor to be here and also to feel the support and confidence 
that you have shown me as I now take on this very difficult assignment. 
That support is very important to me; that I know that I have the 
confidence of the international community and also the confidence of the 
Afghan Government and the President of Afghanistan, which I feel very 
strongly----
    President Bush. Yes, sir.
    Ambassador Eide. ----after my first few weeks. That's--those are 
important tools for me in order to perform my duties effectively.
    We also discussed one important event that lies ahead of us, which 
is the Paris conference on the 12th of June, and the importance of doing 
everything we can to mobilize support, mobilize donors, and also see to 
it

[[Page 618]]

that our efforts are as coordinated and as effective as they possibly 
can.
    So thank you very much, Mr. President, for this occasion and for the 
support you give me.
    President Bush. Thank you, sir. Glad you're here.
    Ambassador Eide. Thank you.

Note: The President spoke at 1:48 p.m. in the Oval Office at the White 
House. In his remarks, he referred to President Hamid Karzai of 
Afghanistan.