[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.