For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
April 23, 2002
President Calls for Free Trade Agreement with Morocco
Remarks by the President and His Majesty King Mohammed VI of Morocco in Photo Opportunity
The Oval Office
THE PRESIDENT: It's my honor to welcome His Majesty the King of
Morocco, to the Oval Office. We've had a really good discussion about
a number of matters. No question that Morocco is a great friend of the
United States of America and for that, Your Majesty, we are very
grateful. I appreciate your steadfast support when it comes to the war
on terror. I appreciate your leadership in the region.
Today, I've informed His Majesty that our government will work to
enact a free trade agreement with Morocco. It's in our nation's
interest that we do so. His Majesty believes it's in his nation's
interest that we have a free trade agreement, as well.
To this end, it's very important that the United States Senate act
on free trade, to give me the trade promotion authority, as well as to
work on -- and the extension of the Andean Trade Preference Act.
Trade is an important part of good foreign policy, it's an important
part of making sure Americans can find jobs. And the Senate needs to
act, and it needs to act now.
We will continue our discussions over lunch. I look forward to
those discussions. His Majesty brings a lot of knowledge, a lot of
vision and it's my honor to welcome him here to the Oval Office. Your
Majesty.
KING MOHAMMED: Thank you. Well, I as I told you, I would ask that
it's easier to translate me and it'll be easier for me and safer for
you. (Laughter.)
His Majesty wishes to thank you, Mr. President, for the words you
have just expressed about Morocco, and words which honor His Majesty
personally, the Royal Family as well as the entire Moroccan people.
We are honored for the relations we have enjoyed so far with the
United States. But I think it's time that we have to shift the gear to
go on higher speed. And we have also -- we are determined to carry
out all kinds of programs dealing with our cooperation, our
collaboration, all fields.
With respect to terrorism, Mr. President, we are also determined to
go ahead with you in fighting terrorism. And this is something of
concern to Morocco as much as it's of concern to the United States and
all democratic people in the world.
With respect to the free trade zone which you have just announced,
Mr. President, I would like to thank you and to tell you how much we
appreciate this initiative coming from yourself, Mr. President, and to
the United States. We will work closely with your collaborators, in
particular, Mr. Zoellick, who I have met twice and who will be
visiting Morocco together with his colleagues. We will work very
closely with them in order to bring about the democratization of this
program of cooperation and friendship between the United States and
Morocco.
His Majesty wishes, Mr. President, to praise the efforts you
personally make and your administration to promote peace and
understanding in the world. He wishes also to thank and to praise Mr.
Secretary of State Colin Powell for what he has done so far, and
especially the effort he just deployed lately and the visit in the
region of which we are beginning to see the results.
And His Majesty wishes that the Secretary of State would have
recovered by now from the trauma he has had when he first met with His
Majesty in Agadir. (Laughter.)
And I would like to thank also Mrs. Tutweiler for the excellent
work she has been doing since she arrived in Morocco.
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, Your Majesty. We'll answer a couple of
questions, or I will. Barry.
Q Mr. President, on that trip, the Secretary came home with an
Israeli idea, but others said similar things, for an international
peace conference. And since he's been home, the White House reaction
seems to be a little lukewarm. Is that something you think is a viable
idea, a foreign ministers conference, perhaps?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, it's first important to know that our
government means what we say, and we said that the only way for there
to be lasting peace is for there to be two states living side by side
at peace with each other.
And, secondly, that in order to achieve that vision, all parties
have responsibilities. The Arab world has responsibilities, and we'll
work with them to delineate those responsibilities and to encourage
them to accept those responsibilities. Mr. Arafat has got
responsibilities, and that is not only to renounce terrorism, but to
fight terror. Mr. Sharon has got responsibilities, and that is to
continue withdrawal.
There is a strategy in place. We're analyzing all options to help
achieve this vision. And I look forward to visiting with His Majesty
about ideas, such as a conference. The key is, however, for the
leaders of the world to work toward that vision by assuming, accepting
and acting on the responsibilities necessary to achieve peace.
Q Mr. President, are you concerned that the long hours and the
pressure of working in this building will drive away more people, like
Karen Hughes? And would you be here without her?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, first of all, Your Majesty, one of my close
friends and advisor has informed the White House today that she is
moving back to Texas. And the reason why is, is because her husband
and son will be happier in Texas, and she had put her family ahead of
her service to my government. And I am extremely grateful for that
approach and that priority. And Karen Hughes will be changing her
address, but she will still be in my inner circle. I value her
judgment and I will have her judgment. I value her advice, I have her
advice. And I value her friendship, and I will have her friendship.