[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 44, Number 38 (Monday, September 29, 2008)]
[Page 1241]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks at a State Dinner Honoring President Alvaro Uribe Velez of 
Colombia

September 20, 2008

    Mr. President, members of your delegation, members of my Cabinet, 
Members of the United States Senate and United States Congress, honored 
guests: Welcome to the White House. Laura and I are really pleased you 
all are here. Our nations share a faith in liberty, a willingness to 
defend it, and a confidence that freedom will define the future for our 
region. The American people, Mr. President, are proud to call the 
Colombian people our friends and our allies.
    You, Mr. President, are a strong leader. You and your Government and 
the Colombian people have shown courage in freedom's cause, by taking on 
the terrorists and the drug lords. This summer, our Nation was impressed 
by the daring rescue of 15 hostages, 3 of whom were American citizens. 
We appreciate your leadership. We are pleased to be your partner in 
strengthening the rule of law and combating the illegal drug trade and 
helping victims of violence rebuild their lives and communities.
    We're also partners in the spread of prosperity. We have negotiated 
a fair free trade agreement that will benefit families and businesses in 
both our nations. And I appreciate your strong advocacy for this 
agreement. And my sincere hope is that the United States Congress will 
pass the Colombia free trade agreement as soon as possible.
    Mr. President, Laura and I warmly remember our visits to your 
beautiful country. We were honored to visit a city liberated by the 
great Simon Bolivar. And in that visit we were honored to be with you 
and your lovely wife.
    And so tonight I want to propose a toast to our friendship, the 
friendship between our countries. May God bless Colombia, and may God 
bless the United States.

Note: The President spoke at 7:31 p.m. in the East Room at the White 
House. In his remarks, he referred to Marc Gonsalves, Thomas Howes, and 
Keith Stansell, former hostages held by the Revolutionary Armed Forces 
of Colombia (FARC); and Lina Maria Moreno de Uribe, wife of President 
Uribe. The transcript released by the Office of the Press Secretary also 
included the remarks of President Uribe. The Office of the Press 
Secretary also released a Spanish language transcript of these remarks.