    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2003, Book I)]
    [June 10, 2003]
    [Pages 619-620]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Prior to Discussions With President Yoweri Kaguta
    Museveni Kaguta of Uganda
    June 10, 2003

        President Bush. It's my honor to welcome President Museveni back to
    the White House. Mr. President, you have shown extraordinary leadership
    on a lot of issues, but the one issue that's really captured the
    imagination and the hearts of the American people is your extraordinary
    leadership on HIV/AIDS in your country. You've shown the world what is
    possible, and I want to congratulate you for that leadership.
        I also want to thank you for your steadfast support on the war
    against terror. And I'm glad you're here.
        Before we begin our discussions I do want to say something on the
    Middle East. I am troubled by the recent Israeli helicopter gunship
    attacks. I regret the loss of innocent life. I'm concerned that the
    attacks will make it more difficult for the Palestinian leadership to
    fight off terrorist attacks. I also don't believe the attacks help
    Israeli security. We have been in touch with all parties in the region.
    I am determined to keep the process on the road to peace. And I believe,
    with responsible leadership by all parties, we can bring peace to the
    region. And I emphasize, all parties must behave responsibly to achieve
    that objective.
        So, Mr. President, I'm glad you're here. Welcome. I'd like for you
    to make a few comments, please, sir.
        President Museveni. Thank you so much. I'm very glad that I'm here.
    First of all, I congratulate President Bush for his leadership in
    fighting terrorism. Terrorism is a very irresponsible way of expressing
    one's dissatisfaction. It uses indiscriminate violence. They don't
    discriminate between combatants and noncombatants. That's why we oppose
    terrorism.
        We fought with guns for the freedom of our countries. I fought for
    many years, but I've never used terrorist means. Freedom fighting is not
    the same thing as terrorism. If you must use violence, you should assure
    that violence is targeted at the combatants, not at the noncombatants.
        Secondly, I salute President Bush for his decision a few years ago
    to open American markets to African value-added products. You hear so
    much of poverty in Africa, but in fact, Africa is a very rich continent.
    The only problem with that, we must--[inaudible]--lose value to the
    outside. We export only raw materials; we don't export value-added
    products. So I'm very glad that President Bush opened the American
    market for our goods.
        I'm also glad that he set up the Millennium Challenge Account. That
    money should be used to aid trade. I don't believe in aid as an end in
    itself. I believe in trade. Trade is the one that can lead to mutual
    benefits for all countries in the world.

    [[Page 620]]

    Therefore, aid should head up trade--should aid in order to trade.
        And finally, I thank him for the money set up for the AIDS fund, the
    15 billion.
        So I really am glad I'm here. We shall discuss more in our private
    discussion.
        President Bush. Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you for coming.
        President Museveni. Thank you.

    Note: The President spoke at 3:20 p.m. in the Oval Office at the White
    House.