[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 44, Number 20 (Monday, May 26, 2008)]
[Page 720]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks Following a Meeting With Iraqi Leaders in Sharm el-Sheikh

May 18, 2008

    President Bush. I just had a discussion with the Vice President, the 
Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister of the sovereign nation of Iraq. 
I told them that I'm impressed by the progress that's taking place, the 
security progress. We talked about Basra and the success of the Iraqi 
Government in Basra in dealing with Shi'a extremists.
    We talked about the economic progress that is being made. We also 
talked about the fact that there's--more work needs to be done, that 
this is--you know, there's still problems. But the good news is, is that 
these three leaders recognize the problems, and they have got solutions 
to deal with the problems.
    And finally, we talked about the need for the people in the Middle 
East to understand the importance of a successful Iraq. And these three 
men are courageous men. They're smart, capable people who are--who 
represent the Iraqi people with a lot of dignity.
    And I welcome you here, Mr. Vice President. Thank you for coming.
    Vice President Abd Al-Mahdi. Thank you, Mr. President. We had a very 
good meeting with President Bush, who always supported Iraq. And we 
assessed the progress that we did on all levels--security, politics, 
even economical progress. It's a regular relationship, and international 
community progress has been marked all of the--on those levels.
    We also assessed the future, what we should do in the future, the 
long-term relationship, other issues of economic kind, and also the 
regional issue.
    So we are working together, really, Iraq with the United States. And 
we were always optimistic, even in the worst days. And we now--today, we 
realize how--the importance of our work, of the cooperation between the 
United States and Iraq, and we'll continue that.
    President Bush. Thank you all.
    Vice President Abd Al-Mahdi. Thank you.

Note: The President spoke at 1:43 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Sharm El 
Sheikh. Participating in the meeting were Vice President Adil Abd Al-
Mahdi, Deputy Prime Minister Barham Salih, and Minister of Foreign 
Affairs Hoshyar Mahmud Zebari of Iraq.