President-elect Medvedev. Good afternoon, Mr. President. I'm happy to meet you again. And I would like to once again thank you for warm congratulations on my election——
President Bush. Yes, sir.
President-elect Medvedev. ——as President of the Russian Federation.
President Putin and you, over these last 8 years, did a lot to advance Russian-U.S. relationship. And the relationship between Russia and the United States is a key factor of international security. When I officially assume my duties, I would like to do my best to keep up——
President Bush. And thank you.
President-elect Medvedev. ——that direction that—our relationship, so there will be constructive engagement between us.
President Bush. Yes, sir. Thank you. Look, it seems like there's a lot of interest in you, Mr. President-elect. You've attracted a lot of cameras.
President-elect Medvedev. Surprise, surprise. [Laughter]
President Bush. Yes. But I thank you for your kind words. Thank you for meeting with me and my delegation. And I'm looking forward to getting to know you, so we'll be able to work through common problems and find common opportunities.
Thank you, sir.
NOTE: The President spoke at 11:20 a.m. in the President's Office at the Bocharov Ruchei. President-elect Medvedev referred to President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia. President-elect Medvedev spoke in Russian, and his remarks were translated by an interpreter.
George W. Bush, Remarks During a Meeting With President-elect Dmitry A. Medvedev of Russia in Sochi Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/node/277217
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