Interview of the President in Roundtable with Foreign Print Media.

WASHINGTON -- Roosevelt Room

10:25 A.M. EST

THE PRESIDENT: How are you doing? Welcome. Pleasure to be with you all. Thank you.

What are the ground rules here, Dana, in terms of the American press?

MS. PERINO: It's all on the record, but can't be used until after these fine folks are able to publish.

THE PRESIDENT: Yes, so delay your stories, will you? (Laughter.)

Q It's very hospitable of you, Mr. President.

THE PRESIDENT: A couple of things. One, I'm excited about going on the trip. I have never been to Saudi Arabia. I have never been to Bahrain. I have never been to Kuwait. I have been to Egypt. I have not been to the Palestinian Territories or Israel as a sitting President.

So this is a really good opportunity to travel and be with friends, and have frank discussions about particularly three items: one, the United States' commitment to the peace process; that what happened in Annapolis is the beginning of serious discussions, a serious attempt by the United States to encourage the Israelis and the Palestinians to develop a vision of what a Palestinian state will look like.

And I am very optimistic that such a vision will come into being by the time I leave office. And the reason I am is because I know the two leaders well, and I believe both are committed to a two-state solution and both understand that in order for that state to come into being, subject to the road map, that there has to be more than just words, there has to be clarity in what a Palestinian state will look like.

Secondly, I'm looking forward to sitting down with friends and allies to assure them of my commitment to Middle Eastern peace and to work with them to make sure they're...

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