 President Burkiba, distinguished guests, and ladies and gentlemen, I've enjoyed this opportunity to exchange views with one of the great liberators of modern-day Africa. President Burkiba of Tunisia is a statesman whose influence extends far beyond the boundaries of his own country, a man of dignity and honor. And today he and I discussed issues of particular concern to our two governments and peoples, including developments in the Maghreb and the situation in the Middle East. The United States and Tunisia share common interests and common values, including a belief that international relations should be based on mutual respect, reason, and cooperation, not subversion and coercion. The United States remains firmly committed to the sanctity of Tunisia's territorial integrity and to the principle of non-interference in its internal affairs. We welcome the evolution of closer relations between the states of the Maghreb within such a framework. President Burkiba and I also discussed the present state of affairs in the Middle East and the efforts to maintain momentum toward a regional peace. Historically, Mr. President, you have supported a constructive approach to ending the turmoil that has plagued the region for decades. We hope you will again use your influence to support those who are taking the steps necessary for direct negotiations based on United Nations Security Council resolutions 242 and 338. As you know, the goal of this administration remains a just, lasting, and comprehensive peace which will address the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people and provide for the security of all states in the region, including Israel. As to President, your visit reaffirms the underlying strength of the bond between us and the warmth of our friendship. It has been a great pleasure to review with you our past exemplary ties. We're confident that the goodwill between us will flourish in the years to come. Tunisia can rely on the continuing support and friendship of the United States of America. Mrs. Reagan, and I wish you and Mrs. Mourguis-Bourbigny, Godspeed on your journey home and on the great endeavors in which you will continue to lead Tunisia. Thank you and God bless you all. The lede, que vous m'avez promis, je parlerai, c'est pour plus, en français. If you will permit me, I will make my remarks in French. Je voudrais tout d'abord exprimer ma profonde satisfaction de me retrouver aujourd'hui aux États-Unis d'Amérique, ce grand pays ami de la Tunisie. La visite que j'entreprend, l'invitation de Président Ronald Reagan revêt pour moi une grande signification, puisqu'elle vient souligner une fois de plus le caractère exemplaire des relations amicales qu'entretiennent depuis si longtemps la Tunisie et les États-Unis d'Amérique. Je tiens à remercier du fond du coeur le Président Ronald Reagan, ainsi que les autorités et le peuple américain pour l'accueil particulièrement chaleureux et amicale dont moi-même et la délégation qui m'accompagne, sommes l'objet depuis notre arrivée à Washington. Je suis très touché par cet accueil exceptionnel, exceptionnellement amical et très impressionné par la grande forme du Président ainsi que par l'accueil et la perspicacité de ces analyses. Nous avons procédé ensemble à l'examen des relations bilatérales. Nous sommes félicités de nos révolutions positives et nous sommes convenus des voies et moyens de les dynamiser et de les diversifier davantage. Nous avons également procédé à un tour d'horizon des problèmes internationaux et régionaux intéressant nos deux pays et plus particulièrement la situation au Maghreb, au Moyen-Orient, en Afrique et en Méditerranée. J'ai plus particulièrement évoqué, avec le Président Reagan, l'évolution des complices raloparistiliens. Depuis qu'en 1965, j'avais appelé les partis concernés au réalisme en acceptant la légalité ongéenne comme base de règlement de ce conflit. Vingt ans après, je demeure convaincu que cette démarche reste seule, honorable pour tous. Et ben, vingt ans après, les Arabes regrettent de ne l'avoir pas accepté. Lors du sommet de fesses, la communauté arabe a eu du mérite d'apporter son soutien à cette approche. Il appartient maintenant à l'autre partie, à l'Israël, de se mettre en fin au choix d'une politique, de se résoudre en fin au choix d'une politique réaliste et passée juive. Il demeure que fidèle à sa politique de non ingérence dans les affaires intérieures des autres, et l'expecieuse et respectueuse du libre choix du peuple palestinien. La Tunisie appartera son soutien à toute initiative de paix que les Palestinians jugeront la plus appropriée pour le recouvrement de leurs droits légitimes et l'installation d'une paix durable et juste dans la région. La plupart, je voudrais à cet égard, souligner combien, sur la plupart des questions évoquées, nos points de vue ont été convergents, ce dont, personnellement, je me félicite. Je suis heureux aussi de constater, chez le président Reagan, une volonté sincère, d'oeuvrer en faveur de la détente, de la paix et de la sécurité dans le monde. J'ai par ailleurs saisi cette occasion pour rappeler au président des États-Unis d'Amérique les principes essentiels et permanents de la politique étrangère tunisienne fondée sur le dialogue et la coexistence pacifique entre les États, sur le renforcement de la paix et la stabilité dans le monde et sur le soutien à toutes les causes justes. Je voudrais enfin souligner au président Ronald Reagan, bonheur et santé et transmettre au peuple américain le message d'amitié et d'estime du peuple tunisien. I should like first of all to tell you how happy I am to be once again in the United States, this great nation friend of Tunisia. My visit at the invitation of President Reagan has deep significance for me since it stresses once again the exemplary nature of the friendly relations between the Tunisia and the United States that have been between us for so long. I should like to express my heartfelt thanks to President Reagan as well as to his administration of the American people for the extremely warm and friendly welcome extended to myself and to my delegation since we arrived in Washington. I'm deeply touched by this exceptionally friendly greeting and welcome and I'm very impressed also to find the president so fit. I'm also very impressed by his very sharp and acute analysis and perceptions. Together we carried out a review of bilateral relations between us. We are gratified by the positive trend of those relations. We are agreed upon the ways and means to give them more impetus and greater diversification. Together also we have carried out a survey of international and regional problems of interest to our two countries. More specifically we've looked into the situation in the Maghreb, the Middle East, Africa and the Mediterranean area. More specifically President Reagan and I took up the evolution of the Israel-Palestinian conflict since 1965. I had first called upon parties concerned to show realism and to accept the United Nations legal framework as a basis for settlement. Twenty years later I remain convinced that this approach remains the only honorable one for all and twenty years later the Arabs are sorry that they did not accept this approach. At the fair summit the Arab community had the great merit to give its support to this approach and now it remains for the other party Israel to resolve to choosing a realistic and peaceful policy. It remains nevertheless that true to our policy of non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries and respectful of the free choice of the Palestinian people Tunisia will bring her support to any initiative of peace that the Palestinians themselves will deem the most appropriate to recover their legitimate rights and set into motion a just and durable peace in the region. In this connection may I stress how close our views are and I'm personally very gratified that President Reagan's and my views are so close on these issues. I'm also happy to observe that President Reagan is motivated by a sincere will to work for relaxation of tension, peace and security in the world. I also use this opportunity to recall to President Reagan what are the essential and permanent principles of the foreign policy of Tunisia based upon dialogue and peaceful coexistence among states, strengthening of peace and stability in the world and supporting all just causes. And finally I should like to express to President Reagan my best wishes for its personal happiness and health and ask him to convey to the American people a message of friendship and esteem from the Tunisian people.