Text 2746, 57 rader
Skriven 2006-05-30 23:34:58 av Whitehouse Press (1:3634/12.0)
Ärende: Press Release (0605302) for Tue, 2006 May 30
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President Bush Welcomes Iraq's Ambassador to the United States
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For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
May 30, 2006

President Bush Welcomes Iraq's Ambassador to the United States
The Oval Office



11:15 A.M. EDT

PRESIDENT BUSH: It is my honor and pleasure to welcome the papers from
Iraq's Ambassador to the United States. Mr. Ambassador, congratulations.

AMBASSADOR SUMAIDAIE: Thank you, Mr. President.

PRESIDENT BUSH: You're now officially the Ambassador. I look forward to
working with you, Mr. Ambassador, and the new government, to help Iraq
become a country that can govern itself and sustain itself and defend
itself. I'm confident in the future of liberty in Iraq because I believe
the people of Iraq want to live in a free society. And although there's
been some very difficult times for the Iraqi people, I am impressed by the
courage of the leadership, impressed by the determination of the people,
and want to assure you, sir, that the United States stands ready to help
the Iraqi democracy succeed.

So welcome here to the Oval Office. Thank you for coming.

AMBASSADOR SUMAIDAIE: Thank you, Mr. President. I am honored and privileged
to serve as the Ambassador of free Iraq, after 16 years of isolation, to
represent my country to this great country, to have a voice for the new
elected Iraqi government, and communicate directly with this administration
and with the people of the United States, to express our ambitions and
desire to live in peace and remove the scourge of terrorism from our land
and help others remove it from theirs.

The President said a couple of days ago in his radio address that the
terrorists can kill innocent people, but they cannot stop the march of
freedom. I echo these words and say that the terrorists can target the
innocent and the weak and the vulnerable, but they will never stop us
establishing a democratic and free country.

I'm proud to represent this country to you, Mr. President.

PRESIDENT BUSH: Thank you, Ambassador. Very well done. Thank you.

END 11:17 A.M. EDT

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