[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 44, Number 30 (Monday, August 4, 2008)]
[Pages 1034-1035]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks Following a Meeting With Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani 
of Pakistan

July 28, 2008

    President Bush. Mr. Prime Minister, welcome. It's been a very 
constructive morning. We've had a good meeting in the Oval Office. And 
then I'm going to have lunch with the Prime Minister here in the main 
White House. And that's fitting. After all, Pakistan is a strong ally 
and a vibrant democracy. And the United States supports the democracy 
and supports the sovereignty of Pakistan.
    We talked about areas of concern. Of course, we're going to spend a 
lot of time on the economy, about how the United States and Pakistan can 
continue to cooperate to--for economic benefits for all the people of 
Pakistan and for our own country, for that matter. And of course, we 
talked about the common threat we face: extremists who are very 
dangerous people. We talked about the need for us to make sure that the 
Afghan border is secure as best as possible. Pakistan's made a very 
strong commitment to that. I told the Prime Minister that the United 
States is committed to helping the Afghan democracy succeed, which is in 
Pakistan's interest. After all, the Prime Minister wants there to be a 
peaceful country on his border.
    The U.S., I repeat, respects the sovereignty of this democracy. And 
we also appreciate the Prime Minister's strong words against the 
extremists and terrorists who not only would do us harm but have harmed 
people inside Pakistan.
    So we welcome you here, Mr. Prime Minister, and looking forward to 
having a good lunch with you after your statement.
    Prime Minister Gilani. Thank you so much. Now?
    President Bush. Please, yes; absolutely.
    Prime Minister Gilani. First of all, I want to thank Mr. President 
Bush for inviting me

[[Page 1035]]

to United States, and this is my second meeting with the President. 
Previously, I met Mr. President in Sharm el-Sheikh, and today again I am 
meeting Mr. President.

    And I appreciate what he has said about supporting democracy, 
supporting sovereignty, looking after the interests and on a lot of 
other areas we are--there's a cooperation between us--we are both--
Pakistan, United States have a very cordial relations and bilateral 
relations. And this is not of today--this is of--for over 60 years since 
the creation of Pakistan. We were inspired with their slogan of liberty 
and self-determination. And now we want to further improve our 
relations.

    We are committed to fight against those extremists and terrorists 
who are destroying and making the world not safe. And that is--this is 
our own war; this is a war which is against Pakistan. And we'll fight 
for our own cost. And that is because I have lost my own leader, Benazir 
Bhutto, because of the militants, and therefore, I assure United States 
and the people of United States, that majority of the people of Pakistan 
and the people of those areas, the NWFP and FATA, they are the 
patriarch, the loyalists. They want the peace in the world, and they 
want to cooperate. And there are few militants--they are hand-picked 
people, militants, who are disturbing this peace. And I assured Mr. 
President we'll work together for democracy and for the prosperity and 
peace of the world.

    Thank you very much.

    President Bush. Thank you, sir.

Note: The President spoke at 11:47 a.m. on the South Lawn at the White 
House. Prime Minister Gilani referred to former Prime Minister and 
Opposition Leader Benazir Bhutto of Pakistan, who was killed in a 
suicide attack in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, on December 27, 2007. He also 
referred to NWFP, the North-West Frontier Province, and FATA, the 
Federally Administered Tribal Areas, of Pakistan.