President
Welcomes Prime Minister Singh of India in Arrival
Ceremony
The South Lawn, July 18, 2005
9:11 A.M. EDT
PRESIDENT BUSH:
Mr. Prime Minister, Mrs. Kaur, Laura and I are
honored to welcome you to the White House.
We meet as leaders of two great democracies,
committed to working together for a better and
a safer world. Your visit reflects the growing
bonds of cooperation between your nation and mine.
Our nations have ties that are strong and warm.
These ties are enriched by hundreds of thousands
of Americans of Indian origin who contribute so
much to America's vitality. Our people share the
bonds of friendship and a commitment to prosperity,
peace and regional stability. Our nations believe
in freedom. And our nations are confronting global
terrorism.
As diplomatic partners, we're meeting this threat
in our own nations and abroad. And as economic
partners, we're working around the world to displace
hatred and violence with prosperity, hope and
optimism. India's embrace of democracy and human
rights had ensured that its great diversity will
remain a national strength. And since enacting
economic reforms in the early '90s, India has
become an emerging economic power to the betterment
of its people.
The relationship between our two nations has
never been stronger, and it will grow even closer
in the days and years to come. This transformed
relationship was seen vividly in the response
to the December 26th tsunami that devastated parts
of Asia. Along with Japan and Australia, our two
nations launched a coordinated and effective disaster
relief mission, providing assistance and relief
where it was most needed.
Mr. Prime Minister, the United States and India
have built a relationship of great potential as
we face this century's challenges. We look forward
to building on our strong bilateral relationship
to expand our economic ties and to lay the foundation
of peace and prosperity for our children and our
grandchildren.
Welcome, Mr. Prime Minister, and thank you for
coming. (Applause.)
PRIME MINISTER
SINGH: Thank you, Mr. President.
Mr. President, thank you very much for your warm
words of welcome. I greatly value this invitation
to visit Washington, and I look forward to my
discussions with you this morning. I'm confident
that my visit today will give us an opportunity
to develop and take forward this strategic partnership
between India and the United States.
We share a common commitment to democracy, freedom,
human rights, pluralism and rule of law. We face
common challenges that threaten our way of life
and values that both our countries hold dear.
We share a common resolve and a common responsibility
to meet those challenges.
Mr. President, there is vast potential for our
countries to work together on an ambitious agenda
of cooperation, bilaterally, and with regard to
what we can do together to address the global
challenges.
Mr. President, your personal commitment to our
relations is widely appreciated in India. I am
confident that from our talks today will emerge
an agenda of cooperation that reflects a real
transformation of our relationship. Its realization
would help India meet the expectations of its
people for a better quality of life, a more secure
future, and a greater ability to participate in
global creativity. I also believe that working
together, our two countries can make a significant
contribution to global peace, security and development.
Let me conclude, Mr. President, by thanking you
and the First Lady, Mrs. Laura Bush, once again
for the warmth of your welcome. I thank you, Mr.
President. (Applause
Following
is the transcript of the remarks by the president
and the prime minister to the press:
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
July 18, 2005
REMARKS BY PRESIDENT BUSH
AND PRIME MINISTER MANMOHAN SINGH OF INDIA
IN JOINT PRESS AVAILABILITY
The East Room
11:08 A.M. EDT
PRESIDENT BUSH: Thank you. I'm proud to
stand here today with Prime Minister Singh, the
leader of one of the world's great democracies.
Mr. Prime Minister, welcome to America. I applaud
your vision and I applaud your leadership. Laura
and I are honored to welcome you and Mrs. Kaur
to the White House.
We just had a great discussion, a very frank
and open discussion. And tonight we look forward
to welcoming you for a little family dinner.
India and the United States share a commitment
to freedom and a belief that democracy provides
the best path to a more hopeful future for all
people. We also believe that the spread of liberty
is the best alternative to hatred and violence.
Because of our shared values, the relationship
between our two countries has never been stronger.
We're working together to make our nations more
secure, deliver a better life to our citizens
and advance the cause of peace and freedom throughout
the world.
The governments of India and the United States
are working together to safeguard our people.
We are charting new steps in our defense relationship
through the recently signed new framework that
will help our two nations work toward common security
objectives. We're working together on counterterrorism
to help protect our people and make the world
a safer place. We're also committed to increasing
the prosperity of the people of India and America
alike. Today, we announced the completion of the
next steps in strategic partnership. Completing
this partnership will help us further enhance
our cooperation in the areas of civil nuclear,
civil space and high technology commerce.
Last month, we launched a reinvigorated U.S.-India
economic dialogue to focus high-level attention
on trade, finance, investment and the environment.
Prime Minister Singh and I are about to meet with
business leaders from both our nations who have
joined us here today for the inaugural meeting
of the CEO Forum. The expertise of these private
sector leaders will help our two governments build
trade and increase investment for the good of
our peoples. Cleaner energy resources, including
nuclear power, are vital for the future of both
our economies. We have begun a bilateral energy
dialogue to find ways to work together in this
important area. Our two nations also have a common
interest in bettering the lives of people around
the world. We are launching a disaster response
initiative to better respond to future disasters,
just not in Asia, but around the world.
I appreciate Prime Minister Singh's leadership.
He's a man who's committed to peace and liberty.
I look forward to working with you, Prime Minister.
I thank you for coming. The podium is yours.
PRIME MINISTER SINGH: Thank you very much, Mr.
President. Ladies and gentlemen of the press,
I would like to begin by thanking President Bush
for the warmth of his hospitality and the wide-ranging
discussions that we've had this morning with him.
These discussions have been, indeed, very productive
and focused on the future direction of a transformation
in our multifaceted relations.
I am happy that the President and I share the
common goal of making this one of the principal
relationships for each of our countries. The President's
personal commitment to this relationship is deeply
admired by the people of India. The support and
goodwill of the friendly people of the United
States in managing the transition from a developing
country to a fast-expanding economy is something
we greatly welcome and greatly appreciate. The
President's assurance to me that India's sustained
economic growth has his strong support and support
of the United States means a lot to us.
The joint statement that we have agreed upon
lays out the full potential of our multifaceted
cooperation. The President has accepted my invitation
to visit India at the earliest, and we are confident
that the results of the understanding that we
have reached today would be fully evident by then.
Our partnership is one between rigorous and vibrant
democracies, and we have agreed today to give
expression to our shared values in a variety of
ways. The President's steadfast determination
and leadership in meeting the challenges of international
terrorism is widely appreciated by us, in particular,
but all the world, all civilized men and women
all over the world. There can be no cause that
justifies the killing of innocent and defenseless
civilians. There must be an international norm
of zero tolerance for terrorists.
Meeting global challenges requires credible and
effective global institutions. Today the world
is debating the reform of the United Nations.
In our talks, President and I were of one mind
that the contemporary reality must be fully reflected
in the central organs and decision-making processes
of the U.N. India has a compelling case for permanent
membership of the Security Council. We are convinced
that India can significantly contribute to U.N.
decision-making and capabilities.
A growing Indian economy, with an accelerated
growth rate averaging about 6 to 7 percent in
recent years, and its integration with the world
economy would expand the scope for commerce, investment
and technological cooperation between our two
countries. Shortly, after this press interaction,
the President and I will spend a few minutes with
corporate leaders from both countries of the first
meeting of the CEO's Forum. This forum includes
some of the best business minds of our two countries.
We have announced today a series of other initiatives
designed to build a long-term, knowledge-driven
partnership between India and the United States.
These reflect the vision that the President and
I have of our shared future.
We also discussed the importance of ensuring
adequate energy and affordable supplies at a time
when oil prices remain high. Both of us recognize
that civilian nuclear energy has a greater role
in meeting global energy demands. We in India
have an ambitious and attainable national road
map in this regard. We look forward to President
Bush's strong leadership on these important issues.
I must once again thank you, Mr. President, for
the warmth of your welcome and for your deep and
abiding personal commitment to the building of
our partnership.
I would now be glad to take your questions.
PRESIDENT BUSH: Hold on a second. The way this
is going to work, the way this will work is I'll
call on somebody from the American side, and then
the Prime Minister will do so; and then I'll call
somebody, and the Prime Minister will do so. We'll
answer two questions apiece, starting with Terry.
Q Mr. President, you said you don't want to talk
about an ongoing investigation, so I'd like to
ask you, regardless of whether a crime was committed,
do you still intend to fire anyone found to be
involved in the CIA leak case? And are you displeased
that Karl Rove told a reporter that Ambassador
Joe Wilson's wife worked for the Agency on WMD
issues?
PRESIDENT BUSH: We have a serious ongoing investigation
here. (Laughter.) And it's being played out in
the press. And I think it's best that people wait
until the investigation is complete before you
jump to conclusions. And I will do so, as well.
I don't know all the facts. I want to know all
the facts. The best place for the facts to be
done is by somebody who's spending time investigating
it. I would like this to end as quickly as possible
so we know the facts, and if someone committed
a crime, they will no longer work in my administration.
Q My question is to President Bush. The question
relates to the line of control in Kashmir, Mr.
President. President Clinton had made clear the
U.S. policy that in the interest of peace, the
sanctity of the line of control must be maintained
by every side.
Would you, Mr. President, like to reaffirm the
U.S. stand that the sanctity of the line of control
cannot be violated by anyone in future in the
interest of the peace? Mr. President.
PRESIDENT BUSH: Well, U.S. policy has not changed.
This problem will be solved by India and Pakistan.
And our role is to encourage the leaders from
both countries to work in good faith to solve
this long-standing problem. And I am pleased with
the progress being made, as should the people
of India. I think the people of India ought to
applaud strong leaders that are willing to work
to achieve peace. And I think -- I think we have
an opportunity to help facilitate the dialogue
on this long-standing issue.
But the truth of the matter is, in order for
there to be a solution, the Prime Minister, representing
the great people of India, and President Musharraf,
representing the people of Pakistan, are going
to have to come to a mutually acceptable agreement.
To the extent we can help, we're more than willing
to try to help. But we're not a party to the agreement,
of course. I'm hopeful -- I'm hopeful -- I'm hopeful
that the progress achieved thus far can be continued.
And I applauded the Prime Minister in my private
meeting with him for taking a step toward peace.
Adam.
Q Thank you.
THE PRESIDENT: Yes, thanks.
Q Thank you, Mr. President. We understand you
are now close to a decision on a Supreme Court
nominee.
THE PRESIDENT: Really? (Laughter.) It's amazing
how Washington works, Mr. Prime Minister. (Laughter.)
Q Have you narrowed down the list and met with
finalists? Will you now share the list with Senate
leaders to avoid a confirmation battle, as Democrats
have proposed?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, thank you for telling me
where I am in the process. I appreciate that.
We've consulted with the Senate. We will continue
to consult with the Senate. I, of course, am the
person that picks the nominee, and they get to
decide whether or not the nominee gets confirmed.
That's the way it has worked in the past. That's
the way it's going to work in this administration.
And of course I'm reviewing a different candidate.
I'm reviewing their curriculum vitae, as well
as their findings. I will sit down with some and
talk to them face-to-face, those who I have not
known already. You know, we've got some people
that -- perhaps in contention that I've already
spent time with, that I know; in other words,
I'm familiar with some of the people that are
being speculated about in the press. And so I
don't need to interview those. But of course I'm
going to take a very thorough approach.
What they're referring to is a Supreme Court
vacancy. And this is a really important decision.
And I'm going to take my time and I will be thorough
and deliberate. But make no mistake, we have heard
a lot of suggestions from members of the United
States Senate -- a lot. It turns out, many of
the senators have got strong opinions one way
or the other. And of course we're listening to
them.
But my desire, Adam, is to get this process moving
so that someone will be confirmed, whoever he
or she is, will be confirmed by October. And if
that's the backstop, we're working back to try
to accommodate the Senate and their desire. Part
of the consultation was to ask the senators, what's
it take to get somebody in place by the October
session?
And thank you for your question, and thank you
for telling me how close I am to -- or at least
indicating what others think. (Laughter.)
Q Mr. Prime Minister, you have sought the removal
of restrictions on nuclear and high technology
supplies to India. After the meeting with President
Bush, how do you see the prospects in this area?
PRIME MINISTER SINGH: Well, I think we have had
a very constructive and productive meeting. And
as you will see from the joint statement, this
issue has been addressed in a manner which gives
me great satisfaction. And I thank the President
for his personal role and interest in facilitating
a solution to this complex problem.
PRESIDENT BUSH: Mr. Prime Minister, thank you.
Very good job. Well done. Thank you, sir.
END 11:24 A.M. EDT
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