Monday, September 22, 2008
President Bush traveled to New York to participate in the United Nations General Assembly. The trip highlighted how the United States has partnered closely with other nations to address global challenges and how we've made some remarkable progress. The trip also provided an opportunity to highlight how the United Nations can better address existing and emerging challenges.

President and Mrs. Bush hosted a reception for other heads of delegation also attending the General Assembly at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City. This was a traditional event the President has done each year.

While in New York, the President released a statement regarding legislation to address the crisis in the financial markets.

Statement by the President on Legislation to Address Crisis in Financial Markets

• In Focus: Economy

Tuesday, September 23, 2008
President Bush met with President Asif Ali Zardari of Pakistan to discuss efforts to strengthen our bilateral relationship and build a long-term partnership based on common values. President Zardari, who carries on the legacy of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, and President Bush focused on cooperation in combating terrorism, strengthening the economy, and fostering democracy in Pakistan.

Then, President Bush made remarks to the United Nations General Assembly. He talked about the role of multilateral institutions, the need for them to be effective in combating terrorism, but also help spread freedom. The President explained that freedom means many things: freedom from hunger, disease, tyranny. So not only do we need to fight terrorists, but we need to offer an alternative vision, which can be gained from spreading the rule of law, new ways of development (by partnering, not dictating), fighting diseases and promoting trade and opportunity. He also discussed the importance of international organizations being more accountable and matching good intentions with real results.

Next, President Bush participated in a meeting on food security. Afterwards, President and Mrs. Bush then hosted a lunch for political dissidents where they discussed how to advance the freedom agenda and the protection of the rights and dignities of all people. Then, President Bush met and participated in a photo opportunity with the United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon.

Later, President Bush and Iraqi President Jalal Talabani co-hosted a meeting consisting of those countries who participated in the coalition on the ground in Iraq. Both leaders delivered remarks that will underscore the significance of a more stable and prosperous Iraq for a more hopeful future in the Middle East.

Finally, President Bush participated in a dinner hosted by Secretary-General Ban.

President Bush Addresses United Nations General Assembly

President Bush Attends Meeting on Food Security

President Bush Meets with President Talabani of Iraq and Iraq Coalition

President and Mrs. Bush Meet with Dissidents

President Bush Meets with President Museveni of Uganda

President Bush Meets with President Zardari of Pakistan

President Bush Exchanges Toasts at U.N. General Assembly Dinner

• Fact Sheet: Meeting the Challenges of the 21st Century
• In Focus: Global Diplomacy

Wednesday, September 24, 2008
President Bush made a statement and participated in a meeting on free trade with Western Hemisphere leaders in New York City. The United States has signed free trade agreements with 12 Western Hemisphere nations that represent two-thirds of the region's GDP and one-third of our global bilateral trade. Comprehensive free trade agreements in this hemisphere have contributed significantly to opening economies, reducing poverty, and strengthening democracy. The President stressed the importance of expanding those benefits by securing U.S. congressional approval of the Colombia and Panama free trade agreements.

Afterwards, President Bush made a statement on temporary protected status with the President Elias Antonio Saca of El Salvador.

Later, at the White House, President Bush addressed the nation regarding the financial crisis we are facing.

President Bush Discusses Free Trade with Western Hemisphere Leaders

President Bush and President Saca of El Salvador Discuss Temporary Protected Status

• Pathways to Prosperity in the Americas
• In Focus: Global Diplomacy

President's Address to the Nation

• In Focus: Economy

Thursday, September 25, 2008
President Bush met with Lebanese President Michel Sleiman to discuss bilateral relations between the United States and Lebanon, U.S. support for a sovereign and democratic Lebanon, and a range of regional issues.

Afterwards, President Bush signed S. 3406, the ADA Amendments Act of 2008. Then, he participated in a photo opportunity with Orthodox Union Leadership. Later, President Bush met with Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas to discuss the progress made toward building Palestinian institutions and toward realizing the vision of two states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security

In the afternoon, President Bush met with bicameral and bipartisan members of Congress to discuss the economy. Later, President Bush met with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to strengthen the Strategic Partnership and build upon our progress in other areas of cooperation, such as agriculture, education, trade, and defense.

President Bush Meets with President Sleiman of Lebanon

President Bush Meets with President Abbas of the Palestinian Authority

President Bush Meets with Prime Minister Singh of India

• In Focus: Global Diplomacy

President Bush Meets with Bicameral and Bipartisan Members of Congress to Discuss Economy

• In Focus: Economy

Friday, September 26, 2008
In the morning, President Bush discussed negotiation to finalize legislation on the financial rescue plan.

President Bush made remarks at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History on the U.S. Ocean Action Plan, which promotes an ethic of responsible use and preservation of our oceans and coastal resources. In December 2004, the President released his Ocean Action Plan and created the first ever Cabinet Committee on Ocean Policy. The Administration has met or is on schedule to meet all of the 88 actions in the Ocean Action Plan. President Bush has steadily increased funding for ocean and coast programs.

Later, at the White House, President Bush and President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan participated in a video teleconference with United States Provincial Reconstruction team leaders, National Guard Agriculture Development team representatives, and Afghan governors. The two Presidents discussedthe state of the international community's efforts to improve security, governance, and reconstruction in Afghanistan. This meeting provided President Bush and President Karzai the opportunity to discuss security, the expansion of the Afghan National Army, the upcoming Strategic Partnership talks, and the implementation of political and economic reforms.

Afterwards, President Bush met with Prime Minister Gordon Brown of the United Kingdom to discuss the global economy, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Georgia, and other strategic issues of shared concern.

Later, President and Mrs. Bush attended a performance and dinner for the 2008 National Book Festival Gala. The festival was co-founded by Mrs. Bush in 2001. Organized and sponsored by the Library of Congress, the festival encourages Americans to develop a lifelong love of reading. Now in its eighth year, the National Book Festival continues to delight audiences with events such as storytelling by children's book authors and book signings by some of America's most popular fiction writers, biographers, and poets.

President Bush Discusses Negotiations to Finalize Legislation on the Financial Rescue Package

• In Focus: Economy

Monday, September 22, 2008

Press Gaggle by Dana Perino

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Press Gaggle Via Conference Call with Deputy Press Secretary Tony Fratto on the Economy

Thursday, September 25, 2008

Press Briefing by Dana Perino

Saturday, September 20, 2008

President's Radio Address
Embargoed until 10:06 AM ET

For more information from this week please visit http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/

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