[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.