    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2008, Book I)]
    [February 16, 2008]
    [Pages 211-217]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    The President's News Conference With President Thomas Yayi Boni of Benin in Cotonou
    February 16, 2008

        President Yayi. Ladies and gentlemen, journalists, on this day,
    Saturday, February 16, 2008, His Excellency Mr. George W. Bush,
    President of the United States of America, and his wife Laura Bush have
    honored my Government and the Beninese people as a whole by deciding to
    conduct a working visit as part of his second trip to Africa. This visit
    is a follow-up to the meetings that I had at the White House on December
    14, 2006, as part of my working trip to the United States.
        Today President Bush and myself have had very fruitful exchanges
    during our bilateral meeting, as well as during an expanded working
    meeting with our staffs, in order to review the excellent relations of
    cooperation which unite the United States and my country, Benin. As you
    know, during his two terms in office, President Bush showed great
    concern for Africa, its well-being, and of the development of its
    people.
        I should only mention as evidence the various initiatives on behalf
    of children, youth, and women, such as the initiative against malaria,
    the emergency plan against AIDS, the initiative for justice and
    empowerment of women. For all of these initiatives, Benin was selected
    by the Government of the United States. Likewise, my country is also
    benefiting from the President's Millennium Challenge Account initiative,
    as well as the AGOA, whose ultimate goal is to create the conditions
    favorable to economic growth on a sustainable manner in order to reduce
    poverty and build an emerging nation.
        During our discussions, we talked about all of the issues of
    cooperation as well as other international topics, such as settlement of
    conflicts in Africa, Benin's participation in peacekeeping operations,
    as well as the reform of the United Nations system.
        On behalf of the people of Benin, of my wife, and myself, I'd like
    to express most sincerely my friendship and all my gratitude to
    President Bush and to Mrs. Laura Bush for this stay filled with
    cordiality and conviviality. On behalf of the Beninese people, I would
    like to thank--wish you a good stay in Africa, Mr. President. Thank you
    very much.
        President Bush. Thank you, sir. Thank you for your friendship; thank
    you for your vision. Madam, thank you
    for your warm hospitality. Laura and I are
    honored to be here.
        You know, we've come to talk about our mutual interests, but we
    would not be talking about this mutual interest if, Mr. President, you
    didn't believe in certain truths and certain values: that all human
    beings have dignity; that people need a government that responds to
    their desires and wishes.
        And so I come bringing the warm friendship of the people of the
    United States and reaffirm our desire to help strengthen your democracy
    by helping the people here realize their God-given talents.
        We spent a little time talking about the malaria initiative and your
    deep desire to make sure every child has got a mosquito net to protect
    them. I mean, we can save lives with an aggressive, comprehensive
    strategy. And that's exactly what you're putting in place here in Benin.
    And I want to thank you for your leadership on that very important
    issue. We will continue to help you.
        I thank very much your focus on education. You know what I know,
    that a nation can't be a hopeful place unless its youth are educated. So
    I'm very pleased to be working with you to expand educational
    opportunities for the people of

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    your country. Through the African Education Initiative, we've helped
    train about 30,000 teachers and administrators here. We've provided
    about 1 million textbooks and teaching guides and workbooks. We've
    helped young girls get a good education. And we're going to spend
    another $6 million on these efforts, only because you are focused and
    your Government is dedicated to making sure the money is spent well and
    wisely. And so I want to thank you for that, sir.
        I appreciate very much your mentioning of the Millennium Challenge
    Account. That account--those monies are given to countries which fight
    corruption, which invest in the health and education of their children,
    which believe in marketplace economies. And that's what you do. And
    that's why we were more than pleased to provide $307 million over a 5-
    year period; it's because of your leadership, the commitment of your
    Government to be a trustworthy partner for the people of Benin. This
    compact is--should touch the lives of about 5 million people here in
    Benin and help thousands grow out of poverty.
        We also really appreciate the fact that your fight against
    corruption is visible and easy for the people to see. I mean, after all,
    you've put auditors in place to make sure the people's money is spent
    well; that, you know, in so doing--and this is such a good lesson.
        And one of the reasons I've come here, sir, is because leaders
    around the world have got to understand that the United States wants to
    partner with leaders and the people, but we're not going to do so with
    people that steal money, pure and simple. And the transparency that you
    put in place and the strong audits that you've got in your country
    should give the people of your nation great confidence in your
    Government, because it gives me confidence to stand side by side with
    you here.
        And so I appreciate your conversation we had. You're right, we spent
    a lot of time talking about a variety of issues. And I'm so honored that
    you would receive us in such a graceful way. Thank you very--merci.
    [Laughter]
        A couple of questions? Yes, you think? Maybe? Okay.

    President's Visit to Benin

        Q. Hi, I'm from Beninese television. Mr. President, during this
    first visit to Benin--this is a first for you, but cooperation between
    our two countries is been going on for 47 years, but yet it's the first
    time that we host a President of your great country in our country. So
    in history, this has been written, but given what has just occurred, is
    this a diplomatic coup or is it truly a change in the relationships
    between the--Benin and the United States? Is this a stunt?
        President Bush. Well, I can give you my perspective, and of course,
    the President will give you his. First of all, I am the first President
    to have come to Benin. I am here to really confirm to the people of
    Benin and the people on the continent of Africa that the United States
    is committed to helping improve people's lives.
        And I also have come to a country like Benin to remind our fellow
    citizens that it's in our national interest to support the people of
    nations, even though we may not have had relations with them in the
    past, particularly those nations in which the leadership and the
    government makes a firm commitment to the investment in its people as
    well as fighting corruption and marketplace economies. And I'm--my trip
    here is a way to remind future Presidents and future Congresses that it
    is in the national interest and in the moral interest of the United
    States of America to help people.
        I reject some of the old-style type of grants, which basically said,
    let's feel better; we'll just give some money out. We believe that
    rather than making ourselves feel better, that our money ought to make
    the people of a particular country feel better about their government.
    And that's why the Millennium Challenge Account, for example,

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    has got certain criterion. And your Government has met those criterion.
        And I would say that it's been a change of relationship. But it's
    been a change of relationship because the leader have changed attitude
    toward how government ought to relate to its people. And so, Mr.
    President, I'm proud to be the first President to be in Benin, and I
    want to thank you for extending me that invitation.
        President Yayi. I believe that perhaps for the journalists who are
    coming from abroad or my compatriots who are also journalists, I think
    that you know well my position on this issue. And I must tell you that
    the visit of the President is a symbol. Perhaps it's a signal to us,
    because as he just said, he conveys who at least--he is attached to
    virtue. Virtue means a lot to him. He is here to support the countries
    which strive to be virtuous, the governments which accept to be working
    on behalf of their people, to serve their people, especially as part of
    a clear vision where we say, where are we going? Where are we leading
    our people?
        And we were clear about that today. We want to move towards
    prosperity and sharing--prosperity, sharing, that means using the
    resources, the work, economic activity, and so on. Of course, this
    vision cannot be achieved unless you have the behaviors that--which you
    have defined, namely to ensure that everything that which stains our
    democracy, which is the--[inaudible]--of the people. Everything that
    would stains democracy will be suppressed--I should say, eliminated--
    which is why we want to ensure that our democracy will honor us, ensure
    education, access to water, to roads, to electricity, telephone, to
    infrastructure--all of these things without which you cannot create jobs
    and distribute income.
        And we identified these ailments that harm democracy, first and
    foremost, corruption, Mr. President. And behalf of the Beninese people,
    I would like to reassure you once again--I've did it already last month
    when I was visiting the United States at the White House--I told you
    that the people have already defined a mission. The mission that we have
    defined for ourselves is to guarantee that we can ensure good
    governance, have the best management of the affairs of a state. And it's
    at this price that we'll be able to accelerate this march towards
    prosperity.
        So, quite naturally for us, the visit of President Bush is a strong
    signal, which comforts us in our beliefs. It's an extra support, an
    extra encouragement in this direction to ensure that this vision will
    realize itself as quickly as possible for the well-being of our people.
    And in this regard, during the talks that we have just had, the
    President himself encouraged us by saying, go ahead, move forward. Do
    not hesitate. Don't distance yourself from the people. We Americans have
    to support you, but the issue, the initiatives that we've started in
    this--in the United States, namely the support against malaria, of
    course, the fight against HIV/AIDS, the emergency plan against HIV/AIDS,
    the MCA--because all of these initiatives today which reinforce U.S.--
    the United States position to help the poor and to fight against
    poverty.
        So I do believe this is a good starting point which takes into
    account the needs of the 21st century.
        President Bush. Oh, I'm sorry. Excuse me.

    Situations in Darfur and Kenya/U.S. Foreign Aid

        Q. [Inaudible]--while it's obvious that Benin is a hopeful example
    of progress on the African Continent, there are a number of other
    examples, unfortunately, of violence and strife in other places, most
    notably Kenya. And I'm wondering, Mr. President, how you go about
    deciding how best to spend your time here on the continent? It seems a
    bit of a contrast when there are some hopeful signs, but there obviously
    are a number of other examples where things are frankly in a very tough
    position right now.

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        President Bush. Yes. I've always found, Kevin [Kevin Corke, NBC
    News], that when you herald success, it's--it helps others realize what
    is possible. And you're right, there's no question, Sudan is a very
    difficult situation, which we have labeled a genocide and which we're
    sanctioning some, rallying others to provide aid in the hopes that there
    will be a robust U.N. force in Darfur that will help relieve the
    suffering.
        As I said in my speech the other day, that the United States will
    help facilitate the movement of the force. As I told Ban Ki-moon yesterday in the White House, we want to help you, but
    you must make sure we have a robust force ready to go.
        Secondly, Kenya is an issue, and--we're going to be in the
    neighborhood in Kenya--in Kenya's neighborhood. And that's why I'm
    sending Secretary Rice there to help the
    Kofi Annan initiative, all aimed at having a
    clear message that there be no violence and that there ought to be a
    power-sharing agreement. You know, this is--but this is a large place
    with a lot of nations, and no question, not everything is perfect.
        On the other hand, there's a lot of great success stories, and the
    United States is pleased to be involved with those success stories. I
    want to remind you, Kevin, that when I first became President, there was
    about 50,000 people receiving antiretroviral drugs to deal with HIV/AIDS
    on the continent of Africa. Today, there's about a million three just
    from the PEPFAR initiative. In other words, there's great progress being
    made. And there's a lot more work to be done. One of the reasons I've
    come on this trip is to say, look at the successes we've had--``we,'' by
    the way, is not American successes, these are joint successes--and look
    at the work that needs to be done.
        You know, the malaria initiative is an initiative that is very dear
    to my heart and Laura's heart, because we weep
    when we think about little babies needlessly dying. And yet now we've
    got a President who is committed to distributing a net to every child
    under 5 years old. But there are still a lot of places that need work on
    malaria. And so the reason I go to countries in which we've got good
    relations, where the leaders are making good choices, is to send a clear
    signal to others that we want to help you, but you've got to have good
    leadership, you've got to make right choices, and you've got to set a
    strategy in place in order to benefit your people.
        I'm excited to be here, I really am. You know, it's my second trip
    as President; Laura's fifth trip as First Lady. I
    hope that sends a clear commitment that the United States--a clear
    signal that the United States is committed. We're committed for national
    security reasons, and that being that these ideologues that murder the
    innocent people can only attract people when there's hopelessness. They
    have no clear vision that's positive. But we're also committed for moral
    reasons. As I told you and told people all the time, to whom much is
    given, much is required. Well, we've been given a lot in the United
    States, and I believe we're required to help brothers and sisters in
    need.
        And so thank you for your question, and thanks for traveling with
    us. This is a great trip.

    U.S. Trade Policy

        Q. Hi, I'm from the Beninese national radio. Mr. President, since
    you have been in power, you have done trips to the United States and
    Benin. Last time, you discussed with President Bush of the issue of
    cotton, American subsidies to their farmers in that country. And we saw
    with which enthusiasm you tackled this issue because, indeed, cotton is
    one of the pillars of the Beninese economy. So based on this visit, and
    up until today, have these things evolved? But is the issue of cotton
    still a sensitive issue?
        President Yayi. I must confess that when we started these
    discussions, we on purpose

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    did not talk about this, because the President asked us, ``What is your
    country ailing of?'' And I didn't bring up cotton. It's he himself who
    asked: ``What about this cotton business? What's going on with cotton?''
    And I thanked him profusely for that.
        So, of course, he shared his vision with us, and he is encouraging
    us to diversify the sources of solutions to the problem that we have
    today, namely the cotton industry. He is aware that in our subregion--
    when we, for example, look at West Africa, and you add Central Africa to
    that, and a--one citizen out of two lives out of that industry. So I do
    believe of the workers in Burkina Faso and Mali, Niger and Togo,
    elsewhere, Senegal--and quite naturally, I think of my compatriots who
    commit themselves everyday that gives them into this line of business.
        So, Mr. President, I was expecting that the press would indeed bring
    up this issue because anybody who decides to fight on behalf of Africa
    against poverty cannot be--allow the cotton industry to deteriorate or
    to disappear. I do believe that there's a strong correlation between the
    health of the cotton industry and the prosperity of our countries.
        So you indeed gave us some advice. I could repeat some of this
    advice. He said, ``Do everything you can to bring added value.'' That's
    his first piece of advice. And he asked us to translate this into a
    vision, and this vision must also be part of a political vision and of a
    strategy. And I answered him, ``You are perfectly right.'' We
    ourselves--this was the direction that we have chosen for ourselves. But
    we are limited by various constraints, such as the shortcomings of some
    of our infrastructure, which are indispensable.
        For example, electricity: I even told him that electricity for the
    textile industry is basically what blood is for the human body. That we
    do have basic issues, basic shortcomings, in terms of energy,
    electricity, water, and so on, truly, and if you could help us in that
    regard. And he told me to--recommend to talk to OPIC, in terms of the
    United States, and to create a partnership between the private and
    public sectors to allow us to move ahead.
        And I reassured him, and I told him that this issue is being
    discussed within the communities that we have--ECOWAS--so that we can
    indeed come up with a subregional strategy, because our countries, taken
    alone, cannot do anything by themself, especially when you look at the
    difference in the Asian countries, in terms of their textile agencies.
    And practically no country in the world can compete against them.
        So of course, the President did not fail to follow up this question
    that I asked him when I was at the White House, namely the issue of
    subsidies. I think you are, indeed, right. Of course, he believed that
    this was an American issue, and that it's not even at his level that the
    core issue is being discussed--it's at the Senate; it's in Congress--and
    that in reality, his concern is to ensure that these efforts towards
    other countries--in order to resume the Doha cycle. It's through that
    Doha cycle that we'll come up with a solution. And he said, ``If Europe
    moves, if China moves, and if everyone else moves this, America moves.''
    And I said, ``You're absolutely right.'' But there's one other issue,
    because when we talked about--with European leaders, they told me,
    ``Well, if America moves, we Europeans, we will move ourselves.'' So--
    and he says, ``Now, if Europe moves, well, we will move.''
        So since the America is the great America, I do hope that great
    America will move, because I wrote to him when this issue was being
    debated in Congress. And I told him, truly, please intervene personally
    to ensure that the United States will indeed be the first to make the
    move.
        So today I applaud the fact that he did remember my request, but he
    did say you can count on him personally, on great America, to ensure
    that the Doha round will resume. And of course, we will come

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    up with a solution to this--of world governance--to ensure that
    international trade can truly help the development of the poorest
    countries, of which we are.
        So that's where we are. That's in the update. I would like to thank
    him very much, because he was the first one, personally, to ask this
    question.
        President Bush. Yes, I brought it up because it was on his mind. And
    look, the way to solve this issue is for the Doha round to succeed. And
    the United States has made moves on agricultural subsidies at the--
    during the negotiations. As a matter of fact, the talks were stalled
    earlier in my Presidency, and I gave a speech that said, we're going to
    move on subsidies, and we expect others to, but we'll take the first
    step--and have.
        And so we'll see what happens. These are serious negotiations, but
    our attitude is, is that we're willing to reduce agricultural subsidies.
    We just want to have access to people's markets, just like they've got
    to our markets. And I told the President I was fairly optimistic that we
    can succeed with the Doha round, and we'll keep working it.
        I also said that commodities--whether the United States has
    subsidies or not, commodities--cotton can be overproduced. There's a lot
    of cotton producers. And so the best way to deal with commodity swings
    is to be a value-added processor; take the cotton and convert it into a
    product people want. And that's why we got into the discussion about
    electricity needs and, you know, is there investment capital available.
    And now it's in Washington, DC, that OPIC has got some expanded programs
    that he ought to look into. So it was a good discussion.
        Ann [Ann Compton, ABC News].

    U.S. Role in Africa/Situation in Darfur

        Q. What specifically do you expect to see coming out of Secretary
    Rice's visit in Kenya for a few hours on Monday? How much can get done
    on Monday?
        And for both of you, at what point does it take more active
    intervention by an American President in some of the trouble spots here
    in Africa?
        President Bush. Well, first, you know, I've been very active, in
    this sense: Every time I meet with a world leader that could affect the
    outcome of a particular issue, I bring it up and expect there to be, you
    know, focus and concrete action. For example, I've spent a fair amount
    of time with Hu Jintao on Darfur, talking about the
    need for us to work collaboratively on Darfur, same in Burma. In other
    words, what--these meetings give me an opportunity to talk about ways
    forward in trouble spots.
        In terms of Condi's visit, I will--the
    key is, is that the leaders hear from her firsthand U.S. desires to see
    that there be no violence and that there be a power-sharing agreement
    that will help this nation resolve its difficulties. That's what
    diplomacy is, and we've been very active on all fronts. Ours--after all,
    back to Darfur, ours is the first and probably only nation that's
    declared it a genocide.
        And you know, I had a tough decision to make early on, and that is
    whether to send troops into Darfur. And I think I've discussed this with
    you all before, that I made the decision not to, upon the recommendation
    of a lot of the groups involved in Darfur as well as other folks. I've
    listened very carefully to their--whether we should or shouldn't, but
    once you make that decision, then there's not many other avenues except
    for the United Nations and the peacekeeping forces. And that's where we
    spend a lot of time and energy trying to get there to be an effective
    response.
        The African Union stepped forward initially. And one of the reasons
    I'm going to Rwanda is to thank President Kagame
    for his strong efforts in Darfur as a--as one of the real leaders in
    providing peacekeepers.

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        But we've been plenty active on these issues. And we'll continue to
    be active on these issues because they're important issues for the U.S.
    security and for our interests.
        Well, Mr. President, thank you. Like, press conference over.
    [Laughter]

    Note: The President's news conference began at 9:59 a.m. at Cadjehoun
    International Airport. In his remarks, he referred to Chantal de Souza
    Yayi, wife of President Yayi; Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and former
    Secretary-General Kofi Annan of the United Nations; President Hu Jintao
    of China; and President Paul Kagame of Rwanda. President Yayi and some
    reporters spoke in French, and their remarks were translated by an
    interpreter.