[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 39, Number 24 (Monday, June 16, 2003)]
[Pages 743-744]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks Prior to Discussions With President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni of 
Uganda

June 10, 2003

    President Bush. It's my honor to welcome President Museveni back to 
the White House. Mr. President, you have shown extraordinary leadership 
on a lot of issues, but the one issue that's really captured the 
imagination and the hearts of the American people is your extraordinary 
leadership on HIV/AIDS in your country. You've shown the world what is 
possible, and I want to congratulate you for that leadership.
    I also want to thank you for your steadfast support on the war 
against terror. And I'm glad you're here.
    Before we begin our discussions I do want to say something on the 
Middle East. I am troubled by the recent Israeli helicopter gunship 
attacks. I regret the loss of innocent life. I'm concerned that the 
attacks will make it more difficult for the Palestinian leadership to 
fight off terrorist attacks. I also don't believe the attacks help the 
Israeli security. I've been in touch with all parties in the region. I 
am determined to keep the process on the road to peace. And I believe, 
with responsible leadership by all parties, we can bring peace to the 
region. And I emphasize, all parties must behave responsibly to achieve 
that objective.
    So, Mr. President, I'm glad you're here. Welcome. I'd like for you 
to make a few comments, please, sir.
    President Museveni. Thank you, sir. I'm very glad that I'm here. 
First of all, I congratulate President Bush for his leadership in 
fighting terrorism. Terrorism is a very irresponsible way for expressing 
one's dissatisfaction. It uses indiscriminate violence. It doesn't 
discriminate between combatants and noncombatants. That's why we oppose 
terrorism.
    We fought with guns for the freedom of our countries. I fought for 
many years, but I've never used terrorist means. Freedom fighting is not 
the same thing as terrorism. If you must use violence, you should assure 
that violence is directed at the combatant, not at the noncombatant.
    Secondly, I salute President Bush for his decision a few years ago 
to open American markets to African value-added products. You hear so 
much of poverty in Africa, but in fact, Africa is a very rich continent. 
The only problem is that we must simply move the value to the outside. 
We export only raw materials; we don't export value-added products. So 
I'm very glad that President Bush opened the American market for our 
goods.
    I'm also glad that he set up the Millennium Challenge Account. That 
money should be used to aid trade. I don't believe in aid as an end in 
itself. I believe in trade. Trade is one that can lead to mutual 
benefits for all countries in the world. Therefore, aid should be ahead 
of trade, should aid in order to trade.
    And, finally, I thank him for the money set up for the AIDS fund, 
the $15 billion. So I really am glad I'm here. We shall discuss more in 
our private discussion.

[[Page 744]]

    President Bush. Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you for coming.
    President Museveni. Thank you.

Note: The President spoke at 3:20 p.m. in the Oval Office at the White 
House. A tape was not available for verification of the content of these 
remarks.