PRESIDENT BUSH: Your Eminence, welcome. It is my honor to welcome you
and your distinguished delegation to the Oval Office. We're -- thank you
for your conversation.
His Eminence and I discussed, of course, Lebanon, and our deep desire
for Lebanon to be a truly free country -- free where people can worship
the way they choose to, free where people can speak their mind, free
where political parties can flourish, a country based upon free
elections. And I assured His Eminence that United States policy is to
work with friends and allies to insist that Syria completely leave
Lebanon, Syria take all her troops out of Lebanon, Syria take her
intelligence services out of Lebanon, so that the election process will
be free and fair.
His Eminence is a man of God. He brings great prestige of the Church
to the Oval Office. And I'm proud you're here, Your Eminence, and thank
you for your time.
Now His Eminence would like to say a few words.
CARDINAL SFEIR: Thank you very much, Mr. President. I come to the
White House in response to the invitation of His Excellency, President
George W. Bush, and to thank him for his courteous and warm reception. I
would also like to express my deep gratitude for his sincere interest in
Lebanon, the freedom of its people, and in peace in Lebanon and the
world.
This was a good opportunity to exchange views on the situation in
Lebanon, and the questions of freedom and democracy in our region. We
profited from this occasion to convey to President Bush the views and
aspirations of all the Lebanese.
(Inaudible) -- by the continuing migration of Christian and Muslim
youth due to the lack of job opportunities and the suffocating political
conditions at home. We look forward to see these conditions reversed
because the future of Lebanon requires the talents and energy of all her
children.
It is important to recall that Lebanon was the first democracy --
democratic country in the region. Maybe it was not a perfect democracy,
but Lebanon remains the role and the point of departure for the spread
of democracy in the region. This is why His Holiness, Pope John Paul II,
stated that Lebanon is an ideal for freedom and democracy for the East
and West, and this is what we have repeated here.
We are hopeful that the Lebanese, with the support of their friends
around the world, will be able to build a better future in a free,
independent, pluralistic and sovereign Lebanon.
Thank you.
PRESIDENT BUSH: Your Eminence, thank you, sir.