[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2002, Book II)]
[September 23, 2002]
[Pages 1644-1645]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Joint Statement by President George W. Bush and the Presidents of the 
Central African States
September 23, 2002

    We, the Heads of State of the United States, Burundi, Cameroon, 
Central African Republic, Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, 
Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Sao Tome 
and Principe, met September 13, 2002 at the 57th United Nations General 
Assembly in New York.
    We confirmed our commitment to cooperate to pursue regional peace, 
prosperity, freedom, and stability in Central Africa. In pursuit of 
these goals, we renewed our commitment to the political and economic 
reforms necessary to improve the lives of the people of Central Africa, 
and mobilize the resources required to advance development in the 
region. We will continue to show the leadership required to achieve 
these goals as the cornerstone of human freedom and dignity.
    We will strengthen the capacity of the Economic Community for 
Central African States (CEEAC) and the Monetary and Economic Community 
of Central Africa (CEMAC) sub-regional organizations, and work with the 
Council for Peace and Security in Central Africa (COPAX) to prevent and 
resolve conflict, reduce human suffering, and promote regional economic 
integration.
    Convinced that peace and security are global, we support the call by 
United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan and 
President Bush for Iraq to fulfill its obligations toward the United 
Nations. We agree that the UN Security Council must face its 
responsibilities and demonstrate the resolve to enforce its resolutions.
    We further agreed that cooperation is essential to combat terrorism, 
and affirmed our commitment to build regional and national capabilities 
to share information and implement United Nations Security Council 
resolutions to eliminate and deny sanctuary

[[Page 1645]]

for terrorist organizations, networks, and finance across Central 
Africa.

Note: An original was not available for verification of the content of 
this joint statement. Participating in the issuance of the joint 
statement were: President Pierre Buyoya of Burundi; President Paul Biya 
of Cameroon; President Ange-Felix Patasse of the Central African 
Republic; President Idriss Deby of Chad; President Joseph Kabila of the 
Democratic Republic of the Congo; President Teodoro Obiang Nguema 
Mbasogo of Equatorial Guinea; President El Hadj Omar Bongo of Gabon; 
President Denis Sassou-Nguesso of the Republic of the Congo; President 
Paul Kagame of Rwanda; and President Fradique De Menezes of Sao Tome and 
Principe.