    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2008, Book I)]
    [January 17, 2008]
    [Page 94]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Following a Meeting With United States Special Envoy to Sudan
    Richard S. Williamson
    January 17, 2008

        The President. I've just had an extensive visit with Madam
    Secretary and members of my national
    security team, Rich Williamson, who is the Presidential Envoy--Special
    Envoy to Sudan.
        We talked about our common commitment and the commitment of this
    Government to help the suffering of citizens in Sudan who, you know,
    suffers deprivation, rape. My administration called this a genocide.
    Once you label it genocide, you obviously have to do something about it.
        Our discussion centered upon our mutual desire to develop a strategy
    that will help the United Nations become more effective. The United
    Nations is--considers the Darfur issue a central issue, and it's on its
    agenda. And we agree. The United States can help what has been a
    process, frankly, that has unfolded a little too slow for our liking.
    And we can help.
        And secondly, we want to make sure that the peace agreement
    negotiated through this administration by Ambassador Danforth, between the north and south, holds. So Rich is going
    to report back to me quickly with, you know, a plan to accelerate our
    efforts.
        You know, America is probably wondering why, why do you care? And
    one reason we care about the suffering in Sudan is because we care about
    the human condition all across the face of the Earth. And we fully
    understand that when people suffer, it is in our interest to help. And
    we also understand that when people suffer, it makes it more likely that
    some may turn to the ideology of those who use murder as a weapon. So
    it's in our national security interest and it's in our--in the interest
    of our conscience to confront this, what we have called a genocide. And
    I want to thank you for taking this on.
        Ambassador Williamson. Thank you, Mr. President.
        The President. It's a big deal; you've got my full support.
        Ambassador Williamson. I appreciate it. Thank you, sir.
        The President. Yes, sir.

    Note: The President spoke at 10:56 a.m. in the Oval Office at the White
    House. In his remarks, he referred to former U.S. Ambassador to the
    United Nations John C. Danforth, in his capacity as former U.S. Special
    Envoy to Sudan.