    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2008, Book II)]
    [December 10, 2008]
    [Page 1439]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Following a Meeting With Darfur Human Rights Activist Halima
    Bashir
    December 10, 2008

        The President. I have just had the distinct pleasure and honor of
    visiting with Dr. Halima Bashir, who wrote a book called ``Tears of the
    Desert.'' This good soul brings firsthand accounts to what life is like
    in Darfur. She has witnessed violence, deprivation, and she carries a
    message of a lot of people who want our help.
        I assured her that, in spite of the economic difficulties, our aid
    will continue to flow. We will use our influence to make sure the aid
    gets to the people of Darfur.
        I also made it clear that I am frustrated with the pace of
    activities, that the United Nations must expedite sending troops,
    peacekeepers, to provide security for the people. That's what they want;
    they want to be able to have a secure life, and that we'll help.
        The United States continues to stand at the ready to provide
    airlift. The pace of action out of the United Nations is too slow. We
    support the mediation process by the A.U.-U.N. mediator. In other words, we recognize in order for
    there to be peace in Darfur that parties must come to the table in good
    faith and solve the problems.
        And finally, it's very important for President Bashir of Sudan to know that he cannot escape
    accountability, that if he so choose, he could change people's lives--
    the condition of people's lives very quickly.
        I've appointed a Special Envoy to Sudan to help put pressure on the Government. The United States
    must continue to rally the international community to put pressure on
    the Government as well. The urgency of the situation is never more
    apparent than when I had the honor of visiting with this brave soul.
        And so I welcome you to the Oval Office. And I welcome any comments
    you want to make.
        Halima Bashir. Yes, of course. Thank you very much for the President
    to invite me to the White House. And I think this is--I'm very happy
    because now Darfur victims' voices is heard in the White House and to
    the American people and to the world. And I think the President, the
    message I send to him is going to do more work in Darfur to handle the
    situation, and to--[inaudible]--and the ICC ruling and just to stop the
    genocide and the crisis in Darfur. Because now more than 5 years, and we
    do not need to wait anymore. We need real action.
        And thank you very much.
        The President. Thank you very much. Thank you all.

    Note: The President spoke at 1:27 p.m. in the Oval Office at the White
    House. In his remarks, he referred to Djibril Yipene Bassole, Joint
    A.U.-U.N. Mediator for Darfur; President Umar Hassan Ahmad al-Bashir of
    Sudan; and U.S. Special Envoy to Sudan Richard S. Williamson.