Readout of the Vice President's Meeting with the Colombian Vice President

Vice President Biden and Colombian Vice President Garzón met earlier today, and discussed a range of issues in U.S.-Colombia relations, which both countries are determined to deepen.  Vice President Biden expressed his condolences for the devastation and lives lost in Colombia due to recent historic flooding, and also discussed the role of economic ties between the United States and Colombia in supporting Colombia’s recovery from the flooding.  
 
Vice President Biden expressed the Administration’s commitment to working closely with the Government of Colombia and other key stakeholders on the successful conclusion of the U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreement.  Vice President Biden commended Vice President Garzón for his leadership on issues related to labor and human rights and underscored the Administration’s support for key reforms being pursued by President Santos and his Administration.

Statement by the Vice President on the Passing of Sargent Shriver

Yesterday, as we paused to remember Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., I heard anew one of his famous calls to action. “Life's most persistent and urgent question,” Dr. King challenged us, “is what are you doing for others?”

Sargent Shriver, who passed away today at the grand age of 95, was the living embodiment of a man who responded to that call with nearly every fiber of his being. His life was a full and magnanimous one spent enthusiastically in the service of others.  It was Sarge who founded the Peace Corps at a time when others were skeptical of U.S. motivations abroad. It was Sarge who led the war on poverty at a time when the poor were a forgotten “other America.” It was Sarge who, with his dear wife of 56 years Eunice, spent decades fighting for the rights and abilities of people with intellectual disabilities. He spent his life fighting intensely for those who needed it most.

Sarge was a national treasure, but he was also a dear friend. He helped me in my first Senate campaign in 1972, coming to Delaware for the last major event before the election, and unquestionably giving me the final push I needed to win.

I owe Sarge a great debt of gratitude for all he did for me, for my family, and for our nation. It is with fond memories and a heavy heart that Jill and I offer our condolences to his children Bobby, Maria, Tim, Mark, and Anthony, and the entire Shriver family, as they mourn Sarge’s passing—while also celebrating a long life filled with the love, respect, and devotion of those of us lucky enough to know him.

BACKGROUND BRIEFING BY SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL ON THE VICE PRESIDENT'S TRIP TO AFGHANISTAN, PAKISTAN AND IRAQ

En route Washington, D.C.

Air Force Two

January 13, 2011

6:36 P.M. Arabian Standard Time
 
     Q    I guess the burning question is, first of all, how did the meeting with Karzai go?
 
     SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  The meeting with Karzai went -- with President Karzai went very well.  I think what we really concluded from the meeting is that we’re very much in alignment, in terms of the broad strategy that we’re working on in Afghanistan.  And this really flows from Lisbon.  I think that was a key moment with the President and Karzai and the allies.  
 
     And essentially we’re in agreement that this year is a pivot point for Afghanistan and for our policy.  We’ve moved from the surge last year to a transition to a -- the beginning of the transition to Afghan lead responsibility.  And there is agreement that that transition will begin this year.  There's agreement in NATO, with Karzai, with the United States that early this year we’ll look at the beginnings of transition.  In July we will start some drawdown of U.S. forces.  And by 2014 the Afghans will have responsibility for security throughout the country.  And so everyone is in agreement with that way forward, and that's very, very encouraging.  
 
A lot of hard work is required to get us from here to there.  And as the President said, as the Vice President and Karzai acknowledge, there are significant problems that we still have to overcome, and the gains that we’ve made to date everyone acknowledges are fragile.  They remain reversible.  
 
So to consolidate what’s been achieved, in terms of arresting the Taliban’s momentum, in terms of building up Afghan security forces, in terms of developing Afghan capacity, all of that requires in particular the Afghans to assume responsibility for security and for governance; for us to keep the pressure on the Taliban; for the efforts that we’re starting to see in reintegration and reconciliation hopefully to move forward so that the Taliban, who are willing to cut ties to al Qaeda, renounce violence and embrace the constitution, can be brought into the fold.
 
So there are a lot of -- there's a lot of hard work, and there are real open questions.  But the big picture is that in terms of the broad strategy, we are more aligned than I think we’ve been since the beginning of this effort with President Karzai in Afghanistan as well, of course, with our NATO and ISAF partners.
 
Q    Can you -- having been on the ground and gotten briefings from the military commanders there and met with Karzai, what kind of a drawdown are we going to see in six months?  Like how -- what is it going to -- is it going to be significant, is it going to be a small --
 
SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  It’s really premature to judge that.  The President has been very clear and consistently clear that the drawdown that would begin in July will be conditions-based.  We don't know the conditions.  And so the pace and scale of the drawdown will be very much dependent on where we are in July.
 
What we do know is that we will begin a drawdown.  What we do know is that this year we are starting the transition to Afghan responsibility.  But we don't know yet the pace and scale of that.
 
Q    Can you talk a little bit about the meetings in Pakistan?  Did the issue of sanctuaries come up?  And did you get any commitments from Pakistan to do more to root out al Qaeda from the sanctuaries?
 
SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  The issue of sanctuaries did come up, as we’ve said, also consistently.  In terms of the effort in Afghanistan, dealing with sanctuaries is an important piece.  I don't want to characterize the Pakistani response.
 
I will say that, you know, what we’ve seen over the past year is a significant effort by Pakistan against a number of extremist groups.  The Pakistanis have moved a significant number of forces from the Indian border.  They’ve taken significant losses in fighting extremists.  They’ve had to deal with Swat.  They’ve had to deal with some of the northern parts of the FATA.  They’ve had to deal with the flood, which took troops away from the effort.  And so I think it’s fair to say we have seen a real effort.
 
But again, the President said, when we announced the review, that from our perspective, in terms of dealing with the sanctuaries that are affecting Afghanistan, it’s still not enough, and we hope to see more.
 
I think the cooperation that we have with the military in Pakistan is as good as it’s been in getting -- I think getting stronger.  
 
I think the Vice President has concluded from his discussions that increasingly there's an understanding and an awareness in Pakistan that at the end of the day, extremism is a problem that we both confront.  And while there are different groups that have different agendas, we are seeing that these groups sometimes make common cause, and I think the Pakistanis are increasingly coming to the conclusion that extremism writ large is a problem for them.  And we see that as well in the assassination of the governor of Punjab.
 
So I think the conversations were very good with General Kayani, with President Zardari, with Prime Minister Gilani.  But there's still work to do, and the Pakistanis have resource constraints.  They have challenges that they have to face.  And we have to work on it together.
 
Q    Did he express any concerns about -- that U.S. cross-border incursions are a violation of their sovereignty?
 
SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  I don't want to characterize what they said in their conversations.  I think you’ve heard the Vice President, in the remarks that he made after the meeting with Prime Minister Gilani, talk about a number of what we believe are misconceptions about U.S. policy and intentions.  And one of them is this notion that we are somehow violating Pakistan’s sovereignty by helping its military deal with extremism.  As the Vice President pointed out, it is the extremists in Pakistan who are violating Pakistan’s sovereignty and sullying its good name.  And what we’re trying to do is to help Pakistan restore full sovereignty.  And so I think that statement speaks for itself.
 
Q    What kind of reaction did you get from the Pakistanis about what he said, in terms of the misconceptions?
 
SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  Extremely positive.  In fact, after the statements, as they were walking out, Prime Minister Gilani complimented the Vice President on his statement, and seemed extremely positive about it.
 
Q    Did he know he was going to say that?
 
SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  No -- well, we told the Pakistanis generically what the statement was about.  We didn’t share it with them in advance, but we told them that there would be a strong statement about the governor and that we would be dealing with some of these misconceptions, and also reminding people of the partnership that we’ve been trying to build, and the way we’ve delivered on that partnership over the past year, in terms of the civilian assistance, in terms of military assistance, in terms of flood relief, in terms of moving away from this transactional relationship, building a long-term partnership.  So I think that was all very well received.
 
The other thing that was striking -- I talked to our ambassador the day after, as did [my colleague], and the coverage in the Pakistani press and media of the Vice President’s remarks was quite remarkable.  Urdu-language papers and media, English-language -- covered the remarks extensively.  They were quite positive, including publications that are typically not enthusiastic about the United States.  They underscored the remarks that he made about the assassination of the governor, particularly the comment that the societies that tolerate such actions often are consumed by them.  And also actually the question of sovereignty -- that was picked up a lot.
  
So our Embassy thought it was quite -- the coverage was quite significant, both in terms of the fact that they repeated verbatim a lot of what the Vice President said, and also the commentary on it was positive.
 
Q    So the purpose of that -- was that to prepare the Pakistani people, perhaps, for these kinds of aggressive tactics -- cross-border operations -- to tell the Pakistanis that we’re not their enemy; change public opinion in Pakistan?  Was that part of the purpose?
 
SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  It was to communicate directly with the Pakistani people and to deal with the fact that, as the Vice President said, when you read the newspapers and magazines in Pakistan, and opinion leaders, when you watch the media, you often hear things and read things that, as an American, you think just do not reflect our intentions or our policies.  
 
And it’s not that we’re immune to this -- it happens in our own media from time to time, as well -- but the Vice President thought it was very important to, in a very straightforward and direct manner, to take on some of these misconceptions, but also to acknowledge criticisms of the United States by Pakistan that we think are legitimate, particularly the concern in Pakistan that we will abandon them after the problem that we’re trying to deal with now together, al Qaeda, is resolved.  And that's very understandable, given the history after the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in the aftermath.  
 
So that was the purpose.  And, you know, I think the Vice President believes that speaking very directly and candidly and taking on these criticisms with a partner is a very effective way to do business and to reach people.  And the reaction of the Pakistani media suggests that that's correct.  
 
Where this goes from here, I can’t tell you, but this is an enduring -- this has to be an enduring conversation.  The relationship with Pakistan has been based on trends and policies that have built up over decades, and turning around problematic aspects of the relationship takes time, and it requires sustained dialogue and conversation.
 
I should add Secretary Clinton, when she was in Pakistan a year ago, did a tremendous job in really starting that conversation and addressing many of these issues also very directly.  And I think the reaction she got was extremely positive.
 
But you have to do this in a sustained, consistent way, and the Vice President thought it was important for that reason.
 
Q    How do you do that in a sustained, consistent way?  I mean, what’s the next steps --
 
SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  Well, for example, of course we want to have as much senior-level engagement as possible, but day in, day out our Embassy and our State Department are engaged in an effort that is, I think, unique in taking on what we believe are misplaced criticisms and misunderstandings of the United States and our policies.  And over time, if you’re doing that and engaging in a very proactive way, hopefully over time you have some impact.
 
But look, at the end of the day, changing the perception about any country has to be based on the policies you’re pursuing, not what you’re saying about them.  And so we also have to demonstrate that the kinds of policies we’re pursuing are policies that make sense for the people of Pakistan.  We think that they are.  We think that the more they understand the work we’re doing with the government, with civil society, with businesses, it is something that's benefiting them.  And the more we get that word out, the more we think we can change the perception over time.
 
Q    The other thing on that was, was what the Vice President said was somewhat of a preview of what we’re likely to hear from the President when he travels there later this year?  
 
SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  I don't want to in any way preview what the President may do or may say.  We’ll let him speak for himself.  But I think you’re seeing a fairly consistent theme from this administration, including Secretary Clinton, including the Vice President, including our daily interactions, where we are working very hard to, in a very direct way, talk about the differences of opinion that we have, to talk in a very direct way about the perceptions, some of which we think are ill-founded, and to tackle them head-on, because that's what friends and partners need to do.  You need to speak very clearly and truthfully to each other and to listen.
 
We’re also trying very, very hard to listen in Afghanistan, to President Karzai, in Pakistan, to the government, to the people.  And I think the more we reflect that and the more we act on that, the better off we’ll be.
 
Q    When you say, “We’re trying to listen,” what are they saying?  And in particular, how did the meeting with the military leaders in Pakistan go?
 
SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  Let me give you an example, in terms of what they’re saying.  President Karzai has had concerns about some of the policies we’re pursuing, particularly -- I would say -- better to say some of the tactics that are involved with the policies we’re pursuing, which he’s been quite vocal about.  He’s had longstanding concerns about civilian casualties.  We’ve made a huge effort to reduce them, and we have, and that's paying dividends.  He’s had concerns about some of the other aspects of our strategy that we’ve also worked hard to see if we could change to -- again, make sure that we’re all on the same page.
 
So we’re trying hard to hear what our partners are saying and make sure that, to the extent it advances our interests, as well, we’re acting on them.
 
Q    Did he bring those issues up in the meetings this trip?
 
SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  What he reflected was, I think, again, being more in sync and in alignment than we’ve been on the strategy, and what we’re trying to accomplish.  I think the meeting was extremely positive in that sense.
 
But again, there's also an acknowledgement by President Karzai and certainly by the Vice President that we’ve got a lot of hard work to do, and none of this is without real -- without fragility, none of this is irreversible, and they certainly both acknowledge that.
 
Q    Can you just --
 
Q    Can we ask about Iraq?
 
Q    Yeah, tell us about Iraq.
 
SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  Oh, sure, sure.  Look, in Iraq, as you know, this was the Vice President’s seventh trip since 2009.  I think as you all saw, he has rather significant relationships with virtually all of Iraq’s leaders.  He knows them well.  They know him well.  
 
And really this trip was designed to do two things.  First of all, it was to underscore the fact that Iraq has had a very significant achievement with the formation of a new government.  As the Vice President has said, the really big story in Iraq over the last couple of years is the emergence of politics as the basic way of doing business, and not violence.  And that's paying huge dividends.  It took the Iraqis a long time, but they got a government and they got it by working together in the political system.  And the government they produced is broad-based, it brings in virtually all of the different major blocks representing the major communities, and that has real promise for moving Iraq forward.  So that was the most important aspect of this.
 
But second, the Vice President spent considerable amount of time with each of the leaders talking about the agenda going forward.  The Iraqis have a lot of important work to do internally now that the government has formed to move forward.  There are big issues that need to be resolved:  oil law, dealing with disputed internal boundaries, working on the relationship with their neighbors, bringing all of their Chapter VII obligations to a close.  The Vice President presided over the closure of most of those obligations in December, but there remain, for example, the issues of Kuwait that need to be resolved.  
 
And also, tremendous potential.  The Iraqi economy is projected to grow at over 6 percent this year, over 7 percent next year.  We’ve seen oil production increase as more and more production is coming online.  But there’s a lot of work to do to bring that forward and to actually maximize the potential.
 
And so that was really the conversation.  And in particular, what the Vice President heard from everyone he talked to was the desire for a strong relationship with the United States and to bring the Strategic Framework Agreement that we have, which calls for cooperation across the board -- economic cooperation, trade and investment, culture, education, security -- to really bring that to fruition.  And so one of the things we focused on is how we move that forward and how we bring our senior officials together to work out very concrete projects.
 
And then finally, I think as you heard, the Vice President wanted to put a spotlight on the military, the U.S. military, that remains in Iraq.  They continue to pursue a very important mission and a dangerous mission, and he wanted to make sure that they get the credit they deserve for the extraordinary job that they’re doing every day, as well as to talk to our folks at the State Department at the Embassy for assuming a tremendous responsibility, going forward, as they pick up a lot of the responsibilities that our military has had.  
 
So that was pretty much the agenda.  And I got to say it was very positive across the board.  I think we came away feeling that the Iraqis, for all of the remaining challenges, including closing out some pieces of government formation, like setting up this National Council on Higher Policies, naming a Minister of Defense, Minister of the Interior, that they were in a good place in terms of the potential for cooperation.
 
Again, none of this is easy.  There's a lot of effort that still has to be made.  But I think we come away feeling like this is moving in a good direction.
 
Q    How much longer do you think the Vice President will play this role in Iraq?
 
SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  The President asked him to continue to play this lead role in overseeing the implementation of our Iraq policy, because we’ve got a very important year, going forward.  We are going down from 50,000 troops to no troops, as we make good on the agreement between the United States and Iraq.  We are building up our civilian engagement, building up the Embassy effort.  The State Department, the Embassy, as I said, are taking responsibilities that are quite remarkable in their breadth and in their depth.
 
 
 
And so the President is very intent on keeping a sustained focus from the White House on Iraq as we move forward this year to ending the war responsibly, because that's ultimately what this is about, and building a strong relationship with Iraq.  And so he’s asked the Vice President to continue to do that.  The Vice President will continue to convene monthly Cabinet-level meetings on Iraq.  I suspect he’ll continue to go to Iraq on occasion.  He’ll certainly continue to be in regular contact.
 
Q    Will he want to bring us with him when he goes?  (Laughter.)
 
SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  He said to us that he thinks that we cannot go to Iraq unless you guys are along, so we’ll be getting you frequent flier miles and all the other benefits that come with that.  
 
     Q    Thanks a lot.
 
          END          6:57 P.M. Arabian Standard Time

Remarks by Vice President Biden and Prime Minister Gilani of Pakistan

Presidential Palace

Islamabad, Pakistan

5:04 P.M. Pakistan Standard Time

PRIME MINISTER GILANI:  Mr. Vice President, it gives me immense pleasure to once again welcome you to Pakistan.  We regard you as a good friend and appreciate your important contribution to reviewing the friendship and partnership between the United States and Pakistan.

VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN:  Thank you.

PRIME MINISTER GILANI:  Pakistan and United States have been on the same side for over half a century and at all defining periods of contemporary history.  Our friendship and partnership is based on shared values.

Vice President Biden, your visit has provided us a good opportunity to exchange views on bilateral and regional issues.  We had very fruitful discussions.  Pakistan looks forward with confidence of a robust, enduring and mutually beneficial partnership with the United States.  Policy consultations and coordination are necessary for attaining a shared cause.  We value United States’ support for Pakistan’s economy, stability and security.  We have set ourselves a calendar of extensive engagements during 2011.  Comprehensive engagements at all plans is important.

I’m happy to note that our enhanced strategic dialogue process is now in place.  We are determined to utilize this and other mechanisms to give greater substance and strength to our relations.

I must add that our discussion today on combating terror, issues of regional stability and promoting reconciliation and peace in Afghanistan were extremely useful.  Mr. Vice President, I assure you that we intend to work practical solutions and answers to many difficult issues.  

Please convey our warm greetings to President Obama and the friendly people of United States.  Thank you very much.

VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN:  Thank you very much, Mr. Prime Minister.  And it’s an honor to be back here, and I want to thank you and your colleagues for your hospitality.  I took so much of your time, and we talked about so many things in detail that you’re probably very tired, but I found it extremely useful, and I thank you very much.

I also had a chance to meet with President Zardari today, and I’m going from here -- as a matter of fact I’m late -- I’m going from here to meet with General Kayani later this afternoon.  

Although it’s been almost two years since I have been back to Islamabad -- two years this month as a matter of fact -- I’ve had the occasion and it’s been my great honor to host you as well as the President in both my home and my office, and I look forward to seeing you again soon.  And I tell you that we have had numerous telephone conversations, and I thank you for always taking my call, and I thank you for your input.

I have been privileged in my career in United States Senate and as Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee to have a long relationship with Pakistani leaders, going all the way back to the early ‘70s.  And our relationship, in my view and the view of President Obama, is absolutely vital, absolutely vital to U.S. interests, and I believe you believe it is to Pakistani interests, as well.

That's why I’m here.  This is why it’s the first overseas trip of the New Year.  And I can tell you President Obama sends his regards and is looking forward later this year to make a trip to Islamabad, as well.

The President and I -- indeed, the entire world, I would suggest -- were saddened, saddened by the cold-blooded murder of a decent, brave man.  The governor was killed simply because he was a voice for tolerance and understanding.  To state the obvious, there is no justification, none, for such senseless acts.

As you know all too well and all students of history know, as we’ve seen throughout history, societies that tolerate such actions end up being consumed by those actions.  So please accept my deepest condolences and those of President Obama and those of the American people.

The United States and Pakistan have forged an enduring partnership, as you referenced, Mr. Prime Minister, against extreme ideologies; a partnership based, as you pointed out, on our common interests and our mutual respect for one another.

And because we so value that partnership, I think it’s important to not only our leaders, as we talked -- as I talked about, understand one another, but that our populations understand one another, the leadership of each of our respective countries, the motives and the intentions, and avoid misconceptions about each of our motives or intentions.

That's why we in the United States and this administration pays close attention to what Pakistanis believe about the United States and U.S. intentions as it relates to Pakistan.  We read your newspaper, and to some of the columnists out here, we read you, columnists, as well.  We watch your television programs, as you do ours.  And we -- and I personally -- meet with Pakistanis from all walks of life.  And I am privileged to have close relationships with the Pakistani American communities, which is very well organized; close relationships for the past 30 years.

So I would like to take this opportunity to address directly what I believe are some misconceptions about U.S. actions and even more importantly about U.S. intentions with regard to our partner, Pakistan.

We know that there are those -- I’m not talking about the leadership; I’m talking about in the public discourse -- those who believe that in America’s fight against al Qaeda, that we have imposed a war upon Pakistan.  But violence -- violent extremists are a threat not just to the United States but to Pakistan, as well, and indeed to the entire civilized world.

The fact is that al Qaeda plotted an attack that killed nearly 3,000 American citizens.  And they continue to plot attacks against the United States and our interests to this very day.  And they have, not with your help, but they have found refuge in some of the most remote portions of your country.

As Pakistanis have wondered whether or not we are part of the problem instead of the solution, al Qaeda has worked with extremist allies who have had you as a target and your people as a target, maiming and murdering thousands of Pakistani security forces and ordinary citizens, as you saw so clearly in Swat and other parts of your country.

There are those also who accuse the United States of violating your sovereignty as we support your army and pursue terrorists where they hide.  I know well over the past 30 years the proud, proud traditions of the Pakistani military and its capacity to defend and protect Pakistan.  But I would respectfully suggest that it’s the extremists who violate Pakistan’s sovereignty and corrupt its good name.  Our goal is to work with your leaders and you, Mr. Prime Minister, to restore and strengthen sovereignties in those areas of your country where extremists have violated it.

There are even some critics in Pakistani society and elsewhere that suggest that America disrespects Islam and its followers.  I would like to take some of you to Los Angeles to one of the largest mosques in the world, where Muslim Americans practice their religion in full view and with respect of all Americans.

The assertion that we disrespect Islam is actually quite the opposite.  Islam is the fastest growing religion in the United States of America.  And as President Obama said in the heart of Cairo, one of the world’s great Muslim-majority cities, and I quote, “Islam is part of America.  And I believe” -- continuing the quote, he said, “I believe America holds within her the truth that regardless of race, religion or station in life, all of us share common aspirations -- to live in peace and security, to get education, to work with dignity, to love our families, our communities, and our God.”

To those who make these charges against us, I would challenge them to name any other country in the world, any country in the world, who -- where those of all faiths enjoy greater freedom of worship than they do in the United States of America.  Name me a single country in the world.  

So I want to put to rest, which I know I will not by this simple assertion -- we are not, we are not the enemies of Islam, and we embrace those who practice that great religion in our country.

There are also those who believe that our policies favor India and seek to weaken -- I’ve even heard some right -- and say to even dismantle this great country.  You know and your colleagues know that is dead wrong.  We want what you want:  a strong, stable, prosperous democratic Pakistan at peace with itself and with its neighbors, including India.  We want that not just for your sake but we wish your success because it’s in our own interest.  It’s in the interest of the entire region and I would argue the entire world.

America admires, admires the vision of your great founder, who said wisely, and I quote, “Our object should be peace within, and peace without.  We want to live peacefully and maintain cordial and friendly relations with our immediate neighbors and with the world at large.”  End of quote.  President Obama and I and everyone in our administration shares that vision.  

There's one last misconception I'd like to address, and I’m not suggesting these misconceptions are held or shared by anyone in this government, but we read them, we listen to them, we watch them on your television.

The one last misconception I'd like to address is there are those who point to America’s history in this region and claim that eventually we will abandon Pakistan; we will no longer be concerned.  But I have learned and we have learned from the past that only a productive way forward -- the only productive way forward is a long-term enduring partnership.

As I said two years ago when I was here -- and some of you covered me -- as I said four years ago when I came with Senator Kerry and others, and I said before that, our nations must move from what unfortunately for several decades was a transactional relationship to a true partnership, a sustained partnership.  

That's why we’ve established in Pakistan our largest educational exchange, and English-language program, in the entire world, a long-term investment in the dynamism of your young people.

A growing number, a growing number of Pakistani Americans, Americans of Pakistani descent, play an increasingly, increasingly visible role in bridging our societies and building those enduring partnerships.

I hope you will acknowledge we have demonstrated -- I say this to the press -- we have demonstrated by our actions over the last several years we mean what we say.

Through our Strategic Dialogue, as you pointed out, we’ve begun to implement projects that will benefit the people of Pakistan, in areas ranging from energy to agriculture to communications.  This means that you will soon see more dams providing more electricity and irrigation; crop yields that are higher; more hospitals providing services to the people of Pakistan, among other tangible benefits.  

Through what used to be called the Biden-Lugar bill -- now the Kerry-Lugar-Berman legislation -- we committed $7.5 billion, in very difficult economic times for us, as well as you and the rest of the world, in civilian assistance over the next five years.  There has been talk, and it’s true, that it took a while to get going.  But it is moving, and we will keep the entire commitment.

Rather than dictate to Pakistan how this money should be spent, we’re partnering with the government to achieve your priorities to lay a foundation for a sustainable long-term economic growth for this great country.

We’ve increased security cooperation between our two militaries, including training, support for operations, and greater coordination among -- along the border in Afghanistan.  And we’ve stood shoulder to shoulder with the Pakistani people during the last summer’s devastating, amazingly devastating, floods, deploying troops, airlift support, relief supplies to the affected regions as quickly as we possibly could.  Our only regret is we could not do more, more quickly with more resources.  I know the work is not yet done with regard to the floods, and that your government, Mr. Prime Minister, faces very difficult choices in addressing the cost of rebuilding.  

And we have made a long-term commitment to assist with the reconstruction and recovery, as evidenced by our announcement last week of another $190 million in Watan -- I’m hoping I’m pronouncing it correctly -- Watan cards.

And by the way, I don’t say this to say -- for you to suggest that you owe us any debt or gratitude.  It’s what partners do for partners.  It’s what should be done.  It’s in our interest to help you beyond it being the right thing to do.

These are just some of the many initiatives underway that are strengthening our partnership and helping to forge a more secure and, God willing, more prosperous Pakistan.

Let me leave you all with this final thought.  My country’s aspirations for Pakistan largely mirror yours, Mr. Prime Minister, and the rest of the Pakistani people.  

When my grandchildren and their grandchildren read news from Pakistan, I don't want them to find articles about terrorism, poverty, political instability, lack of American support.  I want them to be able to focus on the great Pakistani scientist winning Nobel Peace Prizes -- or excuse me, Nobel Prizes for Science.  I want the focus -- them to focus on entrepreneurs founding global businesses that you have.  I want them to focus on the artists creating masterpieces.  I want them to focus on the brilliance of your culture and the incredible resources, human resources, of your country.

As we embark on this New Year, Mr. Prime Minister, we must, in my view and the President’s view, rededicate ourselves to building on the progress we have made in the last couple years and what still must be achieved together.  

Again, I'll end where I began.  A close partnership with Pakistan and its people is in the vital self-interest of the United States of America and, I would argue, although it’s for you to decide, in the vital self-interest of Pakistan, as well.  

The discussions we had today, Mr. Prime Minister, as you aptly stated, are an important, an important step of the many we’ve taken so far toward that end.  My hope is, God willing, if I’m able to stand here next year with you, that we will be able to point to greater progress, greater resolve and more, more economic prosperity for both your people and mine.  And again, I thank you all and your folks for taking so much time with me.  

And I apologize, but I am late for my meeting with General Kayani, and I am never late for generals.  Thank you very much.  

END

5:24 P.M. Pakistan Standard Time