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President's Residence
3:12 P.M. (Local)
PRESIDENT PERES: Mr. President, distinguished guests, as the President of the state I am delighted to speak on behalf of our people. I want to tell you in simple language -- you came to a land and a people that loves deeply the
And also may I say that I have the highest respect for you and the highest regard, because, speaking as a politician, you introduced character in politics. It's a great contribution to politics -- character, courage, vision. And I'm thinking about the last few years you did really three things of importance: your address in 2002, which for the first time established the basis for a solution, and the basis for a consensus in the Arab countries and the rest of -- the two-state solution.
Then you and the Secretary worked very hard in
And I also believe that the process may be slow, but the progress can be sweet. The process will be slow because negotiations by character calls for time between the opening positions and the fallback positions. You argue, you argue, you have to wait for them. But in the meantime, you can build a support for the negotiations that can make it realistic, tangible. I'm referring to economy, it can raise the standard of the lives of the people that will help immensely the Palestinians, Abu Mazen, nothing more than an economic -- (inaudible) advance, and also the security arrangements, which are also positive.
About the economy, I say, it can be done very quickly, because things are ready, and that will have the most profound impact upon all people around. And I would like to add also that while the political side is controversial in our country, economic is a win-win situation. It is accepted by the whole parliament, it is accepted by the Arabs, it is accepted by you and the Europeans, and you can really build a constructive coalition with the Europeans on that issue under your leadership.
We take your visit not as a ceremonial occasion, very powerful, but a third opening after the two states, after the year of
PRESIDENT BUSH: Thank you. Mr. President, thank you for your kind words about me. I'm just following your example. (Laughter.)
PRESIDENT PERES: Be careful. (Laughter.)
Q Ten years to follow.
PRESIDENT BUSH: I wouldn't say that. You're well known in my country, and you're well respected. And so I bring the respect of
Here in the 21st century,
Secondly, the best way to defeat an ideology of hate is with an ideology of hope. And so I come to
PRESIDENT PERES: (Inaudible) the Israeli.
PRESIDENT BUSH: Well, we share a common vision, though, of peace. I come with high hopes. And the role of the
PRESIDENT PERES: Thank you very much. We met, actually, the first time in 1990, the young American President on his ship.
PRESIDENT BUSH: That's exactly right.
PRESIDENT PERES: And since then we are sailing.
END 3:19 P.M. (Local)