[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 39, Number 28 (Monday, July 14, 2003)]
[Pages 900-901]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks at a Luncheon Hosted by President Mogae in Gaborone

July 10, 2003

    President Mogae. The President of the United States, Mr. George W. 
Bush, and First Lady, Mrs. Laura Welch Bush; Your Lordship, the Chief 
Justice and Mrs. Nganunu; the Honorable Deputy Speaker of the National 
Assembly and Mrs. Temane; honorable members of the Cabinet from the 
United States and from Botswana; distinguished ladies and gentlemen.
    I'm delighted to once again welcome you to Botswana, Mr. President, 
and members of your high delegation. It is an honor and privilege on 
behalf of the Government and people of Botswana to thank you for 
honoring us with a visit and for your pro-African initiatives on AIDS 
and trade.
    This visit, the second of its kind by a President of the United 
States, is indeed a welcome gesture of the friendship that exists 
between our countries. The United States and Botswana have enjoyed many 
years of fruitful and beneficial relations.
    Recently, when Botswana appealed to the United States for help in 
the fight against HIV/AIDS, you not only increased the funding for the 
BOTUSA testing and counseling program, but also restored the Peace Corps

[[Page 901]]

program to mitigate the human resources constraints.
    Our country, together with Namibia, has also been given special 
treatment under the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act, AGOA. In spite of 
the fact that Botswana graduated from the least-developed-country status 
several years ago, you, Mr. President, gave us a special dispensation 
which allows us to use third-country fabrics to produce textile goods 
for export to the U.S. market.
    I am happy to say that, as in many other African countries, many 
jobs have been created for Botswana. We deeply appreciate your decision 
and are determined to maximize the benefits under this dispensation.
    The assistance and cooperation we have received clearly demonstrates 
that in the United States, Botswana has a true and dependable partner. 
Mr. President, we also welcome your administration's encouragement of 
and collaboration with your country's private sector in the fight 
against the HIV/AIDS pandemic in sub-Saharan Africa as a whole and in 
Botswana in particular.
    Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, may I now ask you to join me in 
drinking a toast to the continued good health and happiness of the 
President of the United States, Mr. George W. Bush, and First Lady, Mrs. 
Laura Bush, to continued friendship and cooperation between Botswana and 
the United States of America, and of course, to international peace and 
security for which the President stands.
    To the President.

[At this point, the participants drank a toast.]

    President Mogae. Pula!
    Audience members. Pula!
    President Mogae. Pula!
    Audience members. Pula!
    President Bush. Well, thank you very much, Mr. President, for your 
warm words of welcome and for your friendship and your hospitality. And 
thank you, Madam First Lady, as well for the hospitality that you've 
shown Laura and me. We're delighted to make our first visit to Botswana 
and to see the vast and rich beauty of your country.
    The United States and Botswana share many beliefs. We believe that 
democratic government provides the best protections for human dignity. 
We believe that political and economic liberty go together and that 
prosperity is another word for economic freedom. Botswana is known for 
the strength of your democracy and for the vigor of your economy. And 
that's a tribute to the leadership of President Mogae and his 
administration. You have demonstrated, sir, sound economic management 
and fiscal discipline and a commitment to free market principles. You 
have shown that you can build a nation's prosperity and transform the 
lives of its people. And your trade policies, Mr. President, are also 
ensuring strong commerce between Botswana and the United States, which 
will only grow in years ahead.
    Botswana is also directly confronting HIV/AIDS and taking bold steps 
to overcome this crisis. We applaud your leadership. The people of this 
nation have the courage and the resolve to defeat this disease, and you 
will have a partner in the United States of America. My country is 
acting to help all of Africa in turning the tide against AIDS. This is 
the deadliest enemy Africa has ever faced, and you will not face this 
enemy alone.
    Together, our two nations are determined to build an Africa that is 
growing in peace, in prosperity, and in hope. So let us toast to the 
enduring friendship between the United States and the Republic of 
Botswana.
    Mr. President, to your health and to your country's success.

Note: The President spoke at approximately 12:30 p.m. at the Gaborone 
International Convention Centre. In his remarks, he referred to Barbara 
Mogae, wife of President Mogae. President Mogae referred to Chief 
Justice Julian Nganunu of Botswana's High Court; and Deputy Speaker of 
the Botswana National Assembly Bahiti Temane.