The White House, President George W. Bush Click to print this document

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
November 7, 2005

President Bush Discusses Panama's Future During Roundtable
Salon Miraflores
Panama City, Panama

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President's Remarks
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     Fact sheet Trip to Latin America: Panama
     Fact sheet en Español

11:30 A.M. (Local)

THE PRESIDENT: I want to thank you very much. Mr. President, thank you for your invitation. I told the President earlier I was really looking forward to stopping here in Panama for a variety of reasons. First, I'm proud of the job he's done. He's fought corruption, he's been a strong fiscal steward of the people's money. This economy is growing.

Secondly, I wanted to see the Panama Canal. It's a marvel. It's a fantastic opportunity to see this great engineering feat. And at our press availability today, I said how proud I was of the people of Panama for managing this canal in such a professional way, for the good of commerce around the world.

Thirdly, I think it's very important for us always to reconfirm the importance of democracy in our hemisphere. And Panama is a strong democracy -- a democracy that believes in the freedom to worship, the freedom to speak, the freedom of the press, the notion that everybody has got a voice. And so it's an opportunity to say, thank you, for those of you who are working so strong to make sure your democracy flourishes.

So Laura and I are really thrilled to be here. It's a magnificent trip. I'm sorry it's not longer. I told the President after I'm President I'll come back and go fishing with him. (Laughter.) In the meantime, thanks for having us. I'm proud to be here.

END 11:32 A.M. (Local)


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