[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.