[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 39, Number 41 (Monday, October 13, 2003)]
[Pages 1337-1338]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks at a State Dinner Honoring President Mwai Kibaki of Kenya

October 6, 2003

[The President's remarks are joined in progress.]

    It is a real honor for us to welcome you. Our two nations are old 
friends and natural partners. We both emerged from a colonial past to 
become free nations. We stood together during the cold war, opposing 
imperial communism. Today, we stand together against the forces of 
terror and in the defense of human dignity.

[[Page 1338]]

    We both understand the danger and cost of terrorism. It has brought 
damage to both our economies and grief to both our nations. With us 
tonight are two women who suffered terribly on August 7, 1998. Susan 
Hirsch lost her husband, Abdulrahman Mohamed Abdulla, a Kenyan citizen, 
in the attack on the U.S. Embassy in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. And Susan 
Bartley lost her husband, Julian, our U.S. Consul General, and her son, 
Jay, when the terrorists struck our Embassy in Nairobi. Both of you are 
honored guests here tonight, and we honor as well the memory of your 
loved ones.
    America and Kenya are committed to the war on terror, and we seek a 
just and peaceful world beyond the war on terror. Kenya is finding what 
America has found, that democracy and liberty and free markets are 
honorable and just and indispensable to real progress. The challenges of 
freedom are real; yet the benefits of freedom are great and everlasting.
    There is a Swahili proverb which says, ``Forever persist; a rope can 
cut stone.'' Kenya and its leaders have been persistent and courageous 
in the cause of freedom. You're resolved in the fight against terror. 
Kenya is an example to all of Africa and a respected partner of America.
    For all these reasons, Mr. President, I'm pleased to offer a toast 
to the enduring friendship between Kenya and the United States of 
America.

Note: The President spoke at 8:36 p.m. in the State Dining Room at the 
White House. The transcript issued by the Office of the Press Secretary 
did not include the complete opening portion of President Bush's remarks 
but did include the remarks of President Kibaki.