    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2002, Book II)]
    [August 19, 2002]
    [Pages 1429-1430]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement Announcing the United States Delegation to the World Summit on
    Sustainable Development
    August 19, 2002

        I am pleased to announce that Secretary of State Colin
    Powell will lead the American delegation to
    the World Summit on Sustainable Development, to be held in Johannesburg,
    South Africa, from August 26 through September 4.
        Secretary Powell will be joined by Environmental Protection Agency
    Administrator Christie Todd Whitman,
    Chairman of the

    [[Page 1430]]

    Council on Environmental Quality James Connaughton, U.S. Agency for International Development Administrator
    Andrew Natsios, and Under Secretary of
    State Paula Dobriansky.
        The World Summit has a unique opportunity to advance the new
    approach to development that I embraced with other national leaders at
    the Monterrey Conference on Financing for Development this past March.*
    This new approach is based on shared accountability among developed and
    developing nations.
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        *White House correction.
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        The United States is a leader in creating more effective ways to
    combat poverty and raise standards of living, recognizing that progress
    begins with sound domestic policies that promote good governance,
    investment in people, and economic freedom. The U.S. delegation will
    come to Johannesburg with concrete and practical proposals for strong
    and lasting partnerships to advance some of the world's key development
    priorities--clean water, modern energy, good health, and productive
    agriculture--that can lead us to a world without poverty. Poverty
    remains a huge and urgent global problem that demands action by the
    entire world community. We will stand together in Johannesburg to bring
    our full support to this important battle.