I want to express my deep thanks to President Asad for being willing to come to Geneva to meet with me.

I hope that later on this year we might come back to find a resolution of differences that have separated one nation from another and one people from another for many, many years in the eastern Mediterranean area.

I hope that this day's deliberations will be a contribution to peace in the Middle East which can help to guarantee peace and prosperity throughout the whole world.

Many more in the future, I hope.

I believe that the natural inclination of the Swiss people and the atmosphere and influence of Geneva will be conducive to major progress built upon this visit.

Many of the American leaders who have been to Syria to meet with President Asad... have almost always come back to report that he is one of their favorite leaders of all the world.

I believe that this visit in Geneva... can possibly be a milestone in the world's search for peace.

We've reached a very important agreement in this brief time.

I am very delighted and proud to come for the first time to the beautiful country of Switzerland.

I have great confidence in the constructive attitude and the contribution which President Asad can bring to the difficult negotiations this year.

Freedom and democracy are the cornerstones of a just and prosperous society.

We now face the constant prospect that the OPEC nations export about $45 billion worth of goods more than they import.

The last point I would like to make is this: We see very clearly a need for expanding the function of such institutions as the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, and the regional banks.

These declarations were reached, and as I indicated earlier, these are not simply pious words; they are going to be followed up on.

Sometimes heads of state tend to overemphasize or overestimate our own influence.

It's a very difficult question, and it's one that they have avoided, apparently, in years gone by.

I think this is a very important step.

I think they also learned from the process, and therefore, we were very much encouraged when they were willing to agree to go forward with these studies.