SECRETARY CLINTON: Thank
you very much, my friend. I am delighted once again to be here with you
and to have this opportunity to discuss the issues that you have laid
out in detail. I always benefit from your advice and counsel, and I have
once again today.
I am here in Jerusalem on such a beautiful day at a moment of great
change and transformation in the region. It is a time of uncertainty but
also of opportunity. It is a chance to advance our shared goal of
security, stability, peace, and democracy, along with prosperity for the
millions of people in this region who have yet to see a better future.
And it is in moments like these that friends like us have to think
together, act together. We are called to be smart, creative, and
courageous. And no one understands all of this as well as President
Shimon Peres. We were so honored to have you in the White House last
month. And as President Obama said when he awarded Shimon the
Presidential Medal of Freedom, no individual has done so much over so
many years to build our alliance between our two countries, to bring not
just our government but our people closer together. And few people know
better than Shimon the inextricable links between security and peace
and all that they require.
So I am very grateful to be back in Jerusalem and to have this chance
to speak with the President about what we are doing to meet the
challenges and pursue the opportunities presented at this historic time.
I look forward to my other meetings today, where we will continue our
in-depth discussions on a broad range of matters, including Egypt and
Syria, peace efforts, Iran, other regional and global issues. I’ve
already had a chance to discuss those with Foreign Minister Lieberman as
well as President Peres. I will have more to say about them and all the
work that Israel and the United States are doing together at a press
conference this evening after I’ve had a chance to meet with Defense
Minister Barak, Prime Minister Netanyahu, and members of his cabinet,
along with Prime Minister Fayyad.
And so let me close by congratulating Shimon on your fifth year as
president, and recognize another milestone in such a distinguished
career. I also want to take this opportunity to wish you a happy
birthday. I know I’m a little early, but that means I can be the first
friend to wish you a very happy birthday. But to say with such great
gratitude how much I appreciate you, our friendship, the work we have
done together and the work that we will do together in the future.
PRESIDENT PERES: Thank you very much.
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