    [Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 42, Number 17 (Monday, May 1, 2006)]
    [Pages 818-819]
    [Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    <R04>
    Remarks Following a Meeting on Sudan

    April 28, 2006

        I just had an extraordinary conversation with fellow citizens from
    different faiths, all of who have come to urge our Government to
    continue to focus on saving lives in Sudan. They agree with thousands of
    our citizens--hundreds of thousands of our citizens--that genocide in
    Sudan is unacceptable.
        And there will be rallies across our country to send a message to
    the Sudanese Government that the genocide must stop. Those rallies will
    also be an indication that thousands and hundreds of thousands of our
    citizens urge the world to unite with the United States in concerted
    action.
        We have got AU troops on the ground; those troops need to be
    augmented and increased through strong United Nations action. And the
    United States strongly supports a U.N. resolution to do that. I believe
    it's important for the United States to be involved, and the best way to
    be involved with the AU troops is through NATO. I've worked

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    with the Secretary General of NATO and our allies in NATO to provide a
    firm response to the actions that are taking place on the ground. I want
    the Sudanese Government to understand the United States of America is
    serious about solving this problem.
        I'm proud of our Nation's generosity when it comes to aid, and the
    American people ought to be proud of the taxpayer dollars that have gone
    to provide much needed aid for those who suffer. But this Government
    must understand that we expect the aid to get to the people, and we
    expect there to be a solution to this problem.
        There will be rallies all across the country. And for those of you
    who are going out to march for justice, you represent the best of our
    country. We believe every life is precious, every human being is
    important. And the signal you send to the world is a strong signal, and
    I welcome your participation. And I want to thank the organizers for
    being here.
        I want to thank this good man right here--he sits here next to his
    President, and it wasn't all that long ago that he was a slave inside
    Sudan. He sits here to represent the thousands of lives who have been
    affected by a Government that must honor human rights.
        And, Simon, I'm proud to have you here as a fellow American, proud
    to have you here as a friend.
        Thank you all for coming.

    Note: The President spoke at 1:50 p.m. in the Roosevelt Room at the
    White House. In his remarks, he referred to Secretary General Jakob
    Gijbert ``Jaap'' de Hoop Scheffer of the North Atlantic Treaty
    Organization; and Simon Deng, founder of the Sudan Freedom Walk.