    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2008, Book I)]
    [February 26, 2008]
    [Pages 269-276]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks to the Leon H. Sullivan Foundation
    February 26, 2008

        Thanks for coming. I appreciate the warm welcome. Last Thursday,
    Laura and I returned from a 6-day visit to
    Africa. It happened to be her fifth visit and my second. Without a
    doubt, this was the most exciting, exhilarating, uplifting trips I've
    taken since I've been the President. It was an unbelievable experience.
        And I want to thank the Sullivan Foundation for letting me come by
    to visit with you about the trip. And I appreciate the good work they're
    doing on behalf of the people on the continent of Africa. Hope, thank you very much for introducing me and inviting me
    back. It's always an honor to be with Andrew Young, chairman of the board of directors of Leon Sullivan.
        By the way, I should have recognized Carl Masters, your husband--[laughter]. That was a major faux pas, just
    like I should have recognized that my wife,
    unfortunately, is not here, but she sends her very best regards.
        I do appreciate very much Ambassador Howard Jeter for his service to the United States. I thank the members
    of the Leon H. Sullivan Foundation who are with us. Pleased to see
    members of the diplomatic corps who have joined us.
        I'm honored that Congressman Donald Payne, who is the chairman of the Africa and Global Health
    Subcommittee, has joined us today. Thank you for coming, Mr. Chairman.
    He's knowledgeable about the issues on the continent of Africa, and
    that's good. And I want to thank you for your interest and your
    diligence. Sheila Jackson Lee, she's
    supposed to be here. If she's not here, I'll give her an excused
    absence; after all, she is from Texas.
        I appreciate so very much Jendayi Frazer. She is a--[applause]. I probably won't have to say
    anything else. [Laughter] She's been awesome to work with, in putting
    this strategy in place.
        I appreciate very much Rear Admiral Tim Ziemer. He's in charge of the malaria initiative. Admiral
    Ziemer, he's a no-nonsense guy. I hope people have come to realize I am
    too. I'm not interested in promises; I'm interested in results. That's
    why I went to Africa, to see results firsthand. Admiral Ziemer, we're
    getting great results on the malaria initiative, thanks to your
    leadership.
        Lloyd Pierson, President and CEO of the
    African Development Foundation--appreciate your leadership, Lloyd. Jody
    Olsen, Deputy Director of the Peace
    Corps--[applause]--contain yourselves. [Laughter] Although, I'll tell
    you--it's not a part of this speech, but I had a wonderful lunch with
    Peace Corps volunteers in Ghana. Our Peace Corps is full of
    compassionate, hard-working, decent people who are serving America on
    the frontlines of compassion. And I really can't thank the Peace Corps
    enough.
        Last time we met was at your summit in Nigeria, and that was during
    my first trip to Africa. You know, things have changed in Africa since
    then, I mean, striking changes. These changes are the result of a new
    generation of African leaders. They're reformers who are determined to
    steer their nations toward freedom and justice, prosperity and peace.
    They're also the result of new American policy and new American
    commitments.
        In my first term, we more than doubled development assistance to
    Africa. And at the beginning of my second term, I asked the United
    States Congress to double our assistance again. It is an important
    commitment that Congress can make. I'm looking forward to working to get
    these budgets out, Mr. Chairman.
        America is on a mission of mercy. We're treating African leaders as
    equal partners.

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    We expect them to produce measurable results. We expect them to fight
    corruption and invest in the health and education of their people and
    pursue market-based economic policies. This mission serves our security
    interests. People who live in chaos and despair are more likely to fall
    under the sway of violent ideologies. This mission serves our moral
    interests. We're all children of God, and having the power to save lives
    comes with the obligation to use it.
        This mission rarely makes headlines in the United States. But when
    you go to Africa, it is a visible part of daily life, and there's no
    doubt that our mission is succeeding. You see it when you hold a baby
    that would have died of malaria without America's support. You see it
    when you look into the eyes of an AIDS patient who has been brought back
    to life. You see it in the quiet pride of a child going to school for
    the first time. And you see that turning away from this life-changing
    work would be a cause for shame.
        The best argument for our development programs is found in the
    people they benefit. So with the help of our fabulous White House
    photographers, I have assembled a slideshow--[laughter]--of images from
    our visit. And this morning it is my pleasure to share it with you.

    [At this point, a slideshow was shown.]

        Our first stop was to the western African nation of Benin, where we
    touched down on a Saturday morning. Benin is a vibrant democracy with a
    rich history. It has a wise and determined leader in President
    Yayi. I was proud to be the first sitting
    American President to visit the country.
        At the airport, we were greeted by women and children wearing
    traditional dress, and they were dancing and playing drums. And they
    brought several hand-painted signs that the American people need to look
    at: ``Benin people and his President thank
    the whole U.S. people.'' ``Beninese people will remember forever.''
        President Yayi and I had a productive
    meeting. He told me that the malaria initiative and our $307 million
    Millennium Challenge compact are helping alleviate poverty and save
    lives in his country. And I told him that America's support is a
    reflection of his commitment to govern justly and to tackle problems
    head on. I congratulated him on his effort to fight malaria, which
    apparently includes a national awareness day called George W. Bush Day.
    [Laughter] I pointed out to him that hasn't even happened in Texas.
    [Laughter]
        While President Yayi and I had our
    discussion, Laura and Mrs. Yayi met with girls who have received scholarships through
    our Africa Education Initiative. In Benin, these scholarships cover the
    cost of school supplies, such as uniforms and books and oil lanterns
    that allow students to read at night. Many of these girls are the first
    in their family to complete primary school. And their plans didn't stop
    there. Three girls told Laura that their goal is to become the first
    woman President of Benin.
        Laura and I left Benin impressed by the
    energy and determination of its people. Benin is an optimistic, it is a
    confident, and it is a capable nation. And it was a great place to begin
    our visit to Africa.
        Our next stop was Tanzania. We were met by President
    Kikwete and Mrs. Kikwete as well as Tanzanians. They were dancing, and they were
    playing great music. And there was also some unexpected fashion.
    [Laughter] I thought the dresses were pretty stylish. [Laughter] But my
    good wife reminded me that I shouldn't see--expect to see them flying
    off the shelves in American stores anytime soon. [Laughter]
        As we drove from the airport to our hotel, there were tens of
    thousands of people who lined the motorcade route to show their
    gratitude to the American people. And many of them were smiling, and
    they were waving, and they were holding flags. It was an unbelievable,
    unbelievable sight.
        Sunday morning began with a meeting with President Kikwete at the State House.

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    The President told me that relations between our nations are the best
    they have ever been. He said that America's support is helping Tanzania
    improve education and fight HIV/AIDS and dramatically reduce malaria. He
    gave me a memorable gift. Laura said we probably
    need another pet. [Laughter] I'm worried that Barney might be slightly
    intimidated.
        Following our meeting, we signed the largest Millennium Challenge
    compact in the history of the program. The $698 million agreement will
    support Tanzania's efforts to improve transportation and energy and its
    water supply. At a news conference, I again called for Congress to
    reauthorize the Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, to maintain the
    principles that have made it a success and to double our initial
    commitment to $30 billion over the next 5 years. Then President
    Kikwete jumped in to say, and I want
    to quote him on this: ``If this program is discontinued or disrupted,
    there would be so many people who lose hope; certainly, there will be
    death. My passionate appeal is for PEPFAR to continue.'' I couldn't
    agree more with the President. And I hope every Member of the United
    States Congress hears that appeal.
        They should also hear about the HIV/AIDS clinic at the Amana
    District Hospital, where Laura and I visited with
    the President and Mrs.
    Kikwete on Sunday afternoon. The clinic opened
    in 2004 with the support from PEPFAR. And two thoughts struck me on the
    visit. First, this program is saving lives; there are tangible results.
    When I visited sub-Sahara Africa in 2003, 50,000 people were receiving
    medicine to treat HIV/AIDS. When I visited again last week, the number
    had grown to more than 1.3 million.
        At the clinic, we visited with a man and
    woman who learned they had HIV while they were
    dating but went on to get treatment, get married, and have a little baby
    boy who is HIV-free. We saw many others
    who have new hope because of PEPFAR, including a 9-year-old girl who is
    HIV-positive. She was smiling at the clinic with her grandmother
    because--or sitting at the clinic with her grandmother because her mom
    and dad had died of AIDS. For the past year, Catholic Relief Services
    has been paying for the girl to receive treatment at the clinic. And I
    want to tell you what her grandmother said: ``As a Muslim, I never
    imagined that a Catholic group would help me like that. I am so grateful
    to the American people.''
        The second important point is that PEPFAR is allowing African
    nations to lay the foundation for a health system that does more than
    treat HIV/AIDS. When patients report to the clinic, they are given a
    series of tests, they get results quickly from a laboratory on site, and
    they can receive treatment in the same place. I was struck by the
    devotion and the professionalism of the clinic's staff. They spoke
    proudly about the rigorous training they received and the meticulous way
    they instruct patients on how to take their medicine. One nurse said
    PEPFAR funds are helping them to treat more patients while producing--
    providing more privacy. This is helping extend lives, reduce the stigma
    of HIV/AIDS, and build the health infrastructure that will save many
    more lives in the future.
        On Monday, we traveled to the northern part of Tanzania. We passed
    Mount Kilimanjaro and drove past a lot of people who were lining the
    street on the way to the city of Arusha. Of course, that's where the
    Sullivan Foundation is going to have its next meeting. You'll like it up
    there. [Laughter] And the people will like seeing you.
        It's also on the frontlines of Tanzania's fight against malaria.
    Laura and I visited the Meru District Hospital,
    and we saw moms and babies that were overcoming this disease. When new
    mothers bring their babies, the hospital immediately tests them for
    malaria and HIV. Nurses distribute bed net vouchers, which mothers can
    use to buy insecticide-treated bed nets from local

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    retailers at a 75-percent discount. I was concerned about the 75-percent
    discount, and so I announced a new effort, and that is to distribute an
    additional 5.2 million bed nets free of charge. And that would be enough
    for every child in Tanzania between the ages of 1 and 5. It is
    irresponsible to sit on the sidelines knowing that young babies are
    needlessly dying across the continent of Africa and elsewhere. And I was
    really pleased to be able to kick off this new initiative by handing out
    bed nets to this young mother. After the--[applause].
        So it made sense to go to the local factory where the bed nets are
    produced, called A to Z Textiles. On the floor of the newly opened
    facility, we saw the nets produced in a clean, safe working environment.
    The owner explained that the factory employs 1,200
    local workers. If we're helping projects in Africa, we want those
    projects to employ people from the country in which we're helping. And
    the vast majority of those workers are women.
        He takes great pride in supplying bed nets to
    Zanzibar, where the percentage of infants--I want you to hear this--
    where the percentage of infants infected with malaria has dropped from
    about 20 percent to less than 1 percent in 2 years. He called America--
    the American people's efforts to fight malaria ``a godsend.'' And I
    agree. I thanked him for his good work and was honored to see stacks of
    these lifesaving nets bearing the name of the United States of America.
        In the afternoon, we visited a Maasai girls' school, where we
    received an unbelievably stirring welcome from the students. This school
    is led by a Catholic nun--who was on my left--
    empowers girls who have long lacked education. The girls receive
    scholarships from our Africa Education Initiative. The girls sang these
    lyrics: ``Look at us. Listen to our voices. Today, we can study because
    of the American people.'' It was a stirring anthem. We also met a group
    of Maasai men. These guys can flag jump. [Laughter] Unbelievably
    powerful experience for Laura and me, and it was
    a great way to close our visit to Tanzania.
        Early Tuesday morning, we headed to Rwanda. After flying over Lake
    Victoria, we touched down in the beautiful city of Kigali. We were
    greeted by Rwanda's thoughtful and effective leader, President Paul
    Kagame, along with Mrs. Kagame.
        Our first stop in Rwanda was to the Kigali Memorial Centre.
    Laura and I laid a wreath to honor the victims of
    the 1994 genocide. I don't know if our citizens understand this, but
    between 800,000 and a million people were murdered in a very short
    period of time. More than 250,000 are buried at this memorial, and many
    of them were children, who are depicted in photographs that were donated
    by their families. This is a moving, moving memorial. One inscription
    read: ``Age 4. Enjoyed singing and dancing.'' And then it listed the
    brutal way in which this young girl was murdered. The memorial is a
    moving reminder that evil is real, and we must confront it wherever it
    happens.
        The memorial centre is also a reminder of how far Rwanda has come in
    the past 14 years. During our meeting, President Kagame updated me on his country's dramatic and hopeful
    turnaround. Rwanda has taken bold steps to foster reconciliation,
    rebuild its devastated infrastructure, and to grow its economy. It is a
    hopeful country. And to build on this progress, the President and I
    signed a bilateral investment treaty, which will help attract more
    capital to Rwanda's dynamic economy.
        We're also cooperating on matters beyond Rwanda's borders. I thanked
    Rwanda for being the first nation to contribute peacekeepers to Darfur.
    And I announced that the United States has committed $100 million to
    assist African nations willing to step forward and serve the cause of
    peace in Darfur. I also had the honor of dedicating a new U.S. Embassy
    in Kigali, which is a sign of our lasting commitment and our deep
    friendship.

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        Our final stop in Rwanda was a hillside school that is supported by
    PEPFAR, the emergency plan. It was a really interesting experience. We
    met with a lot of students and their parents. And you know, this is a
    scene at the most popular club at the school, which is the Anti-AIDS
    Club. The students told me about their ambitious projects, which include
    teaching abstinence and providing HIV/AIDS testing and counseling.
    Abstinence may be controversial in the Halls of Congress; it is not
    controversial on this campus. As a matter of fact, they put a skit on
    for us. In it, a girl is approached by a rich man who offers her gifts
    in exchange for sex. She calls it a ``ridiculous'' proposition and says,
    ``I'm not that kind of girl.''
        Laura and I departed Kigali inspired by the
    courage of the Rwanda people, grateful for their hospitality, and
    confident in their extraordinary potential for the future.
        Our fourth stop was Ghana. We received another warm welcome, with
    tens of thousands lining the street, including thousands of
    schoolchildren in their uniforms. I suspect they're really happy I came;
    they didn't have to go to school--[laughter]--at least until the
    motorcade passed.
        President Kufuor and I met at Osu
    Castle. It's a striking white building on the shore of the Atlantic. For
    generations, the castle was a post in the slave trade. And today, it is
    a seat of a proud and democratic Government. During our meeting,
    President Kufuor and I discussed the wide-ranging cooperation between
    the United States and Ghana.
        After the meeting, I added a new element to our partnership, a $350
    million initiative to target neglected tropical diseases like river
    blindness and hookworm across the globe. Needless to say, the
    President really welcomed this
    announcement.
        He spoke powerfully about the
    ideological struggle unfolding around the world, and he stressed the
    importance of America's continued engagement in Africa. Listen to his
    words: ``If the United States should lock itself into isolationism and
    think it is safer, then I would say, perhaps they don't know what is
    coming.'' Wise words from a wise man.
        Our next stop was a visit to the Embassy staff at the U.S.
    Ambassador's Residence in Accra. I think the audience was happy to see
    Laura and me--it seemed that way--but I know they
    were even more excited to see our surprise guest, reigning ``American
    Idol'' Jordin Sparks. This young child can
    sing. [Laughter] And she sang the national anthem that inspired all that
    were there. And I reminded people there that this spring, ``American
    Idol'' will again use its prominence across our TV screens to raise
    funds for malaria relief in Africa.
        After lunch, we went to a trade fair and met local merchants who
    export their products to the United States through AGOA. And my
    predecessor gets a lot of credit for getting AGOA out of the United
    States Congress, and I appreciate the Congress working to extend it
    again. This is a good program, and it's working.
        At the trade fair, we saw how the USAID helps these budding
    entrepreneurs secure financing and increase their access to the U.S.
    market. Sometimes we take entrepreneurship for granted. The spirit
    exists, but sometimes people just need a little help. And that's what
    we're doing.
        One group was called Global Mamas, specializes in helping women
    entrepreneurs find new places to sell their goods. With USAID help, the
    company has gone from 7 employees to about 300 employees in 5 years.
    Those are before Global Mamas.
        One woman named Esther runs a dressmaking company called My Redeemer
    Liveth. Since the trade hub opened, she's increased her exports and more
    than tripled her number of employees. She told me, ``I'm helping other
    women, and I'm helping my family too.''
        One of the keys to helping Africa succeed is to empower
    entrepreneurs. It is in our interest, as well, to open up trade

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    and deal with the subsidies and trade-distorting tariffs. And on the
    continent, I assured the leaders that I am firmly dedicated to coming up
    with a successful Doha round to make trade freer and fairer.
        After the trade fair, we drove to a local school for one of the best
    ways you can spend a sunny afternoon, and that's watching a ball game.
    In this case, it was a tee-ball game. One team featured players from a
    local orphanage. Americans have got to know, there's a lot of orphans on
    the continent of Africa as a result of disease and civil strife. It's in
    our interests to help the orphans, and we are. They were called the
    Little Dragons, and we played a team from a local school that happened
    to be called the Little Saints. [Laughter] And we saw some very talented
    players.
        We also met great coaches and mentors, many of them from our
    Embassy, who give their time to help the children improve themselves on
    the diamond and off. But this is more than a baseball program. This is a
    hopeful program. This is a program where people realize love. And this
    is a program where kids are able to develop aspirations and dreams. Some
    of them, of course, want to be big league players, but a lot of them--
    and they'll find out, if they can't hit the curve ball, they won't be--
    but a lot of them want to be doctors and pilots and engineers. One child
    told me, ``I want to be a fashion designer.'' [Laughter] It's in our
    interests that we help people realize their dreams.
        Laura spent time with Ghana's schoolchildren.
    Here she is with Mrs. Kufuor. They were
    treated to a kindergarten performance of a song about math, and they
    listened to a fifth grade debate. And she opened a library. Laura is a
    librarian. She loves the library; she loves books. And she opened up a
    reading hut built with support of USAID. And beneath the shade of the
    hut, she enjoyed some story time with eager young readers and a reading
    mascot. He's the guy on the left. [Laughter]
        That evening, the President hosted a
    spectacular state dinner. The night ended with an impromptu dance to a
    traditional beat called high life. Some of us put on a better
    performance than others. [Laughter] That is our Ambassador. [Laughter] She was somewhat taken aback--
    [laughter]--as was Laura and most everybody else
    in the audience. [Laughter]
        I'm impressed by the President of Ghana. He is an example of a leader who has made right
    choices for his people. And it is in our interests to support such
    leaders.
        Early Thursday morning, we left Ghana for our final stop, which was
    Liberia. We were met by Africa's first democratically elected woman
    President, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. In
    her office in Monrovia, the President told me about the challenges her
    country faces and her detailed plan to meet them. She has assembled a
    wise group of advisers and ministers, many of whom were educated in the
    United States. And I took a little time there at the meeting to thank
    them for leaving our wonderful country to go back home and help this
    young democracy not only survive but to thrive. I told the President
    that I admire Liberia's recovery from war and that she could count on
    America to continue to stand by her side. And that's a commitment we
    must keep.
        The spirit of the Liberian people was unmistakable. We drove through
    the city. Again, there was some--a lot of folks lining the road, and
    they were cheering, and they were enthusiastic, and they were waving
    flags. I went to thank those who work at our Embassy. I told them that
    the desire for freedom is universal. And it was interesting, the
    response from the Liberians in the audience, and they started shouting
    back, ``Yes!'' at the top of their lungs. They wanted America to hear
    their voices.
        When the Liberian troops trained--Liberian troops who were trained
    with U.S. funds marched past us--the President and me reviewing the troops--it was a proud moment. All
    of a sudden, you're beginning

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    to see a force take force--place that will be disciplined and serve the
    people as opposed to intimidating the people. It's worth our interests
    and efforts to help train people--these governments train force to bring
    stability to their countries.
        But nothing sums up the new Liberia better than its approach to
    education. We had a roundtable at the University of Liberia. By the way,
    I'm pretty certain the President was
    educated at the University of Pennsylvania. The more people who come to
    be educated in the United States from abroad, the better off our country
    will be.
        This man here is getting U.S. help to train teachers and principals
    to help rebuild the country's school system. I met a 15-year-old boy who
    was once reading well below grade level, and he didn't like going to
    school; that's what he said to the crowd. Both Presidents sitting there, he said, ``I just didn't like
    going to school.'' And he was falling behind. And yet there's a USAID
    program to help students like him catch up, and now he wants to go to
    college. This woman I met told us that her husband left her and three
    children because she was illiterate. Pitiful excuse for not being--you
    know, standing up and being a good father. But nevertheless, it's what
    she said. And now she has learned to read, and she plans to go to
    college. And like a lot of other people we met, she wants to be the
    President of Liberia. [Laughter]
        The progress in Liberia is real, and it is inspiring. As a Liberian
    official put it during a prayer at one of our ceremonies--and these are
    prayerful people, and they're not afraid to pray in public--the nation
    has passed from ``the valley of despair to the buoyancy of new hope.''
    The Liberian people have a distance to travel, but they do have an
    unshakable faith in liberty. And they got a faithful friend in the
    United States of America.
        And so throughout our trip, Laura and I were
    overwhelmed by the outpouring of warmth and affection for the American
    people. Again and again, we heard the same words: ``Thank you.'' Thank
    you for sparing lives from malaria and HIV/AIDS. Thank you for training
    teachers and bringing books to schools. Thank you for investing in
    infrastructure and helping our economies grow. Thank you for supporting
    freedom. And thank you for caring about the people in Africa.
        Americans should feel proud, mighty proud, of the work we're doing
    in Africa. At every stop, I told people that the source of all these
    efforts is the generosity of the American people. We are a nation of
    compassionate and good-hearted folks. We recognize the extraordinary
    potential of Africa. In schoolchildren waving flags on dusty roadsides
    to nurses caring for their patients at busy clinics to artisans selling
    their products in scorching heat, we saw people who have been given
    great challenges and respond to them with clear eyes and big hearts.
        In Rwanda, a schoolteacher was discussing the fight to eradicate
    malaria and AIDS with her class. And she explained her attitude this
    way: ``It can happen here.'' With those words, she summed up the new
    spirit of Africa: confident and determined and strong.
        This is a spirit worthy of America's support. It is more powerful
    than any partisan quarrels here in our Nation's Capital. And having
    given our word, we must not turn back now. Congress needs to make
    America's commitment clear by fully and promptly funding our development
    programs. And Presidential candidates of both parties should make clear
    that engagement with Africa will be an enduring priority of the United
    States.
        Laura and I are going to carry many fond
    memories from our trips to Africa. We will carry this clear conviction:
    With the continued support of America, the people of Africa can do more
    than survive; the people of Africa can succeed. God bless.

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    Note: The President spoke at 9:48 a.m. at the Marriott Wardman Park
    Hotel. In his remarks, he referred to Hope Masters, special adviser,
    Leon H. Sullivan Foundation, and her husband Carlton A. Masters; Howard
    F. Jeter, president and chief executive officer, Leon H. Sullivan
    Foundation; Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Jendayi E.
    Frazer; President Thomas Yayi Boni of Benin and his wife Chantal de
    Souza Yayi; President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete of Tanzania and his wife
    Mama Salma Kikwete; Anug Shah, owner, A to Z Textiles; President Paul
    Kagame of Rwanda and his wife Jeannette Nyiramongi; President John
    Agyekum Kufuor of Ghana and his wife Theresa Kufuor; entertainer Jordin
    Sparks; and U.S. Ambassador to Ghana Pamela E. Bridgewater.