    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2003, Book II)]
    [September 3, 2003]
    [Pages 1083-1084]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Joint Statement Between the United States of America and the Kingdom of
    The Netherlands
    September 3, 2003

        President Bush and Prime Minister Balkenende today agreed that progress in fighting the global
    tragedy of HIV/AIDS requires more and better coordination among donor
    and recipient governments, international organizations, non-governmental
    organizations (NGOs), and the private sector.
        The United States and the Netherlands therefore agree to cooperate
    on HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, and care in countries in which both
    the United States and the Netherlands have significant activities,
    including countries that will receive special focus in the President's
    Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. The plan will start in Rwanda and Ghana
    and may expand to Zambia, Ethiopia, and possibly Sudan once a peace
    agreement is signed.
        The cooperation agreement will highlight political leadership and
    public-private partnerships, which are a focus of both the President's
    Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief and the Netherlands 2003 AIDS Action
    Plan.
        This cooperation agreement is the first step of a joint initiative
    in which the United States and the Netherlands will seek to coordinate
    HIV/AIDS activities, strategies, and programs in African countries.

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    Note: An original was not available for verification of the content of
    this joint statement.