    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1991, Book I)]
    [June 5, 1991]
    [Pages 610-612]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    [[Page 610]]

    Remarks Following Discussions With Prime Minister Anerood Jugnauth of
    Mauritius
    June 5, 1991

        The President. Mr. Prime Minister, it is an honor for us, our whole
    team, all of us, to welcome you to the White House on this, your first
    official visit to Washington. I understand you have with you some of
    your business community, and I look forward to greeting them when this
    little ceremony is over.
        Your visit comes at a time of tremendous change for my country and
    yours and for all the world. We've seen a new faith in freedom sweep the
    globe. It's taking hold on every continent.
        This new discovery of free enterprise and free government across
    Africa vindicates the path that Mauritius has followed since the very
    first days of its independence. On the island of Mauritius, democracy
    has deep roots. Pluralism flourishes in a free and open multiparty
    system. And the free market is widely recognized as the engine of growth
    and development.
        Mr. Prime Minister, under your leadership Mauritius has experienced
    almost a decade of unprecedented economic growth. The challenge for
    Mauritius now is to diversify its economy, to ease the exclusive
    dependence on the export of one product, and I'm pleased that we had a
    chance to talk about that today. The key is creating a pro-investment
    climate, and here Mauritius has made a strong beginning with its Export
    Processing Zone. Gross earnings generated by this zone, this EPZ, now
    surpass earnings from Mauritius' traditionally dominant sugar industry.
    The EPZ is responsible almost singlehandedly for slashing unemployment,
    providing the people of Mauritius with new opportunity and new hope.
        Mr. Prime Minister, let me repeat here what I said in our meetings
    today. The United States applauds the course you have chosen. We stand
    ready to help. We will tailor our assistance programs to meet Mauritius'
    new needs, to help your nation develop new markets and industries. But
    we know that government-to-government programs alone cannot unlock your
    nation's tremendous potential for growth, so we must build ties between
    our private sectors. And I am pleased that this September the Agency for
    International Development and OPIC, our Overseas Private Investment
    Corporation, plan an investment mission to Mauritius to develop
    promising opportunities for American industry.
        Under the terms of the Lome Convention, Mauritius does enjoy access
    to European markets, to the Middle East and Asia, and of course, to the
    continent of Africa. Geography has made Mauritius a gateway to growth.
    There is every reason that Mauritius, the ``star of the Indian Ocean,''
    can turn its potential to prosperity in the years ahead.
        In addition to the issues of increased trade and investment, I
    reviewed with Prime Minister Jugnauth world affairs of urgent concern,
    in particular our common security concerns in the Indian Ocean. I
    stressed the tremendous value to Mauritius, to its neighboring nations,
    to the international community as a whole, of the American military
    presence in the region as demonstrated so clearly in Operation Desert
    Storm. We talked about the Middle East. We talked about the continent of
    Africa. And from our view, sir, this was a far-reaching and very
    constructive dialog that we had here today.
        Our two peoples are separated by thousands of miles, but we are
    linked across that vast distance by a common faith in freedom and, by
    that faith, to a common future as friends.
        So, once again, sir, it has been my real pleasure to welcome you and
    your able assistants, your teammates here, to the White House and to
    Washington. May God bless you all. And thanks for coming our way.
        The Prime Minister. Mr. President, I very deeply appreciated the
    opportunity given to me today to discuss with you matters of importance
    to our two countries and pertinent issues of mutual interest to the
    United

    [[Page 611]]

    States and Mauritius, two countries which share very many common ideals
    of freedom, democracy, respect for human rights, peace, justice, and
    equality.
        On this historic occasion, it gives me the greatest pleasure on
    behalf of the Government and people of Mauritius, and in my own name, to
    convey to the wonderful people of the United States of America our
    warmest greetings, our very best wishes, and the expression of our
    admiration and friendship. To you, Mr. President, I convey our highest
    respect as the inspiring leader of the free world.
        Our talks were conducted in a friendly atmosphere as naturally as
    leaves come to the tree. This is but normal. Although Mauritius is on
    the other side of the world in the middle of the Indian Ocean, we do
    share so many common ties. We Mauritians enjoy, as do the Americans,
    democratic traditions, a free press, an independent judiciary, and a
    free market system.
        In the 23 years of our independence, Mauritius has conducted regular
    and free elections in a multiparty parliamentary system. Mauritius, like
    the United States of America, is a melting pot of many races and
    religions. Our people, too, worked hard and transformed a bare country
    from a land of opportunity to what the international community now calls
    an economic miracle nation.
        A lot of the success comes from our dedication to educating our
    people. We therefore applaud, Mr. President, your efforts as the
    education President. We have one of the highest literacy rates in the
    world. And we continue to provide for better access to higher education
    and specialized training free of cost to our students. At the same time,
    we are trying to develop a society that will not, in its material
    search, become oblivious of human values.
        This again reminds us, Mr. President, of your own ideals so
    eloquently expressed during your Inaugural Address when you said that--I
    quote--``America's success would be measured by the need not to be more
    driven to succeed than anyone around us, but to celebrate the quieter,
    deeper successes that are not made of gold and silk, but of better
    hearts and inner souls.''
        In our consultations with you, Mr. President, we reviewed the
    situation in the Persian Gulf, and we are happy to note that a permanent
    peaceful settlement is in the offing. I congratulate the allied nations
    under your able leadership in their efforts to demonstrate that
    aggression shall not be allowed to succeed.
        In the new world order that is developing, it augurs well for the
    future that international cooperation is given paramount importance in
    allowing consultations and dialog to promote peace, as demonstrated in
    recent United Nations concerted action in the Gulf crisis. It is in this
    spirit that problems, whether in the Horn of Africa, Southern Africa,
    the Middle East, or elsewhere, can be successfully resolved.
        Mr. President, we Mauritians are, however, very much concerned about
    recent events in South Africa. Such events--namely, continued violence
    and postponed agendas--unfortunately raise doubts about the future of
    the negotiations process. We appeal for the immediate cessation of
    hostilities. We feel that Mr. Mandela and Mr. Buthelezi should aim at
    bringing unity among the black communities. A united leadership would
    bring about a dismantlement of apartheid sooner. President de Klerk, Mr.
    Mandela, and Mr. Buthelezi have a tryst with destiny to build a united,
    democratic, nonracial South Africa.
        I share, Mr. President, your vision of this new world order. I trust
    this can serve as a guide for the Indian Ocean region also. As a small,
    vulnerable country, we want to ensure peace in the area. That is why we
    support the move for the Indian Ocean to be a zone of peace and also the
    establishment of a nuclear free zone in the region.
        The process of demilitarization embarked upon by you, Mr. President,
    and President Gorbachev should be encouraged to its logical conclusion.
    It is obvious, therefore, that the Chagos Archipelago should be returned
    to Mauritius, its rightful owner.
        We also had much to talk about international trade in general, and
    Mauritius trade in particular, the key to our continued economic
    development and long-term prosperity. I am confident that our two
    largest exports, sugar and textiles, will continue to

    [[Page 612]]

    obtain reasonable and sustained access into the U.S. market. We are
    ready, willing, and prepared to continue to supply the highest quality
    products to the United States of America. Mauritius looks forward to
    successful diversification programs while attracting foreign investments
    in new areas, for example, medium and high technology, manufacturing,
    tourism, banking, shipping, and computer technology.
        I'm reminded of Napoleon Bonaparte's maxim that ``a leader is a
    dealer in hope.'' Your leadership proves it. Like you, Mr. President, we
    have a vision. A vision that, as old rivalries disappear, as we build
    new consensus among world leaders, we can create a future world that
    will be rid of environmental pollution, we'll see an end to famine,
    provide universal access to health care, establish better standards of
    living for all, encourage free trade and ensure peace.
        Mr. President, I'm proud to say that Mauritius is a great little
    country wherein there is unity in the richness and splendor of diversity
    and wherein peaceful coexistence is not a mere blueprint but a living
    reality. We have been referred to as a United Nations in miniature. So,
    indeed, we are. But our people have great hearts and great visions for
    ourselves and for the peoples of the world, united in freedom and true
    democracy, the democracy and democratic life that Americans and
    Mauritians enjoy fully.
        Mr. President, we Mauritians are a peace-loving and hardworking
    people. We're also a sophisticated people. In our humble but strong
    contributions to the free world, we naturally expect tangible gestures
    of encouragement from the stalwarts of freedom led by the wonderful
    American people. Our success deserves special attention and further
    encouragement, for after all, we, too, wish and work towards the advent
    of true democracy throughout the world. In this context, an economically
    stronger and more prosperous Mauritius would become an ongoing example
    to prove that the democratic way of life is the best way of life. Mr.
    President, I rely on you to help Mauritius to achieve this.
        Before closing my remarks, I should like to express my unflinching
    support to you, Mr. President, in your ceaseless and dedicated efforts
    to safeguard world peace and promote democracy everywhere. We are
    touched by the warmth of the hospitality that has been extended to me
    and my delegations since our arrival. I shall treasure these great
    moments of my visit. I wish to extend our deepest appreciation to you,
    Mr. President, and to the great people of the United States of America
    for having invited us to visit the sanctuary of freedom that your
    country is and for having made our stay as useful as it has been
    pleasant. Thank you very much, indeed, and God bless you and God bless
    America.
        The President. Thank you very much, and thank you for those kind
    words. I appreciate it.

                        Note: The President spoke at 1:23 p.m. at the South
                            Portico of the White House. In his remarks, the
                            Prime Minister referred to Nelson Mandela,
                            Deputy President of the African National
                            Congress; Mangosuthu Gatsha Buthelezi, Chief
                            Minister of South Africa's KwaZulu Homeland and
                            leader of the Inkatha Freedom Party; President
                            Frederik Willem de Klerk of South Africa; and
                            President Mikhail Gorbachev of the Soviet Union.
                            Prior to their remarks, the President and the
                            Prime Minister met privately in the Oval Office
                            and with U.S. and Mauritian officials in the
                            Cabinet Room, and then attended a luncheon in
                            the Old Family Dining Room.