For Immediate Release
Office of the First Lady
May 8, 2006

Mrs. Bush's Remarks at Education Roundtable in Costa Rica
Escuela de los Estados Unidos
San José, Costa Rica

9:43 A.M. (Local)

MRS. BUSH: I wanted to just say to everyone what an honor it is for me, how thrilled I am to be the head of the delegation to the inauguration of your new President, President Arias. I come with the very, very best wishes in regards to the people of Costa Rica from President Bush and the American people. As you know, Costa Rica and the United States have a very long history of friendship. We've worked together on a lot of issues throughout our history, and we appreciate the friendship of the people of Costa Rica.

Many Americans love to travel here. In fact, I think a very large number of tourists come to Costa Rica from the United States every year, including my daughter, who came year before last, when she was in her senior year in college. And because of that, I think there's a special tie between our two countries.

So I'm very happy to be here. This was a fun and interesting roundtable. This chance to get to visit with people who are working on education in Costa Rica is something that each of us, in every one of our countries, have to always work on, because there will always be another little class of little students that start. So it's not something we ever finish. And a good education for all children requires a very strong focus for parents and teachers and governments and all community leaders.

So this was a very fun and interesting roundtable today. This fall I'll be hosting in New York, during the United Nations General Assembly, a world conference on literacy, while people from around the world are in New York for the United Nations General Assembly. My co-hosts will be the State Department of the United States, the Department of Education, and then UNESCO, the United Nations entity that pays the most attention to education.

So I hope to continue this dialogue with -- about education around the world this fall, and about literacy in education for all boys and girls around the world. So thank you all so much.

END 9:46 A.M. (Local)