    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2008, Book I)]
    [February 12, 2008]
    [Pages 175-176]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Following a Discussion With President Amadou Toumani
    Toure of Mali
    February 12, 2008

        President Bush. It's been a honor and a pleasure to welcome the
    President of Mali here to the Oval Office.
        We discussed a variety of issues. I was touched by the President's
    concern about the life of the average citizen in Mali. We are partners
    with the President and the people of Mali through the Millennium
    Challenge Account. And one reason we worked with the Government is
    because they've agreed to fight corruption and support the education and
    health of its citizens. This is a country that's committed to the rights
    of its people, and we're proud to be standing side by side with you.
        Two issues that are very important to this administration, Mr.
    President, were the issues that my wife Laura
    discussed when she came to your country: One is literacy, and two is the
    eradication of malaria. And I assured the President that our commitment
    remains strong to both important issues. And I thank him very much for
    his hard work in helping his citizens deal with HIV/AIDS.
        And finally, the President and I spent a fair amount of time talking
    about the dangers of radicals and extremists associated with groups like
    Al Qaida. And we talked about the need for close cooperation to protect
    the innocent people from those who murder the innocent in order to
    achieve their dark political vision.
        So it's been my honor to welcome a good man here to the Oval Office.
        President Toure. Yes. First of all, I would like to convey to the
    President of the United States the sympathies and solidarity of the
    people of Mali because of the destruction----
        President Bush. Thank you.
        President Toure. ----brought by the tornadoes in some of the
    Southern States of the United States.
        And then I told Mr. President that we were sensitive and impressed
    by the impression that we had from the visit of Mrs. Laura Bush to Mali
    some time ago. Also, thank the President for the friendship between the
    people of the United States and the people of Mali and the cooperation
    between Mali and the United States that we do entertain on both sides
    since the independence of Mali in 1960.
        But I could also come to the United States just to tell Mr.
    President----
        President Bush. Thank you, sir.
        President Toure. ----thank you, because the President had some
    initiatives not only for Mali but also for Africa, which we believe are
    historical initiatives, and which we do have the Millennium Challenge
    Corporation, the greater participation against the fight against AIDS
    through the Global Fund, the initiative of the eradication of malaria,
    and not to forget the Presidential initiative on literacy in Africa,
    which is very important in our view, because when you want to develop,
    you----
        President Bush. That's right.
        President Toure. ----need to also improve basic education.
        President Bush. That's right.
        President Toure. So I emphasized to the President that--and I
    reaffirm--that Mali signed and Mali averred to all different initiatives
    on the fight against terrorism. So it is humanly inadmissable,
    unacceptable to see or to assist or to be indifferent to the suggestion
    that we are seeing to some practices which really do not deserve to
    exist.
        So we had a fruitful exchange of views on our cooperation. So I said
    to Mr. President that I would like to thank him and also to convey all
    the gratitude of the people of Mali, but I emphasized also the fact that
    may God save Mali and the United States. President, thank you very much.

    [[Page 176]]

        President Bush. Thank you, sir.

    Note: The President spoke at 10:33 a.m. in the Oval Office at the White
    House. President Toure spoke in French, and his remarks were translated
    by an interpreter.