[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 43, Number 23 (Monday, June 11, 2007)]
[Pages 739-741]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
The President's Radio Address

June 2, 2007

    Good morning. Next week, I will travel to Europe to attend the G-8 
summit. At this meeting, the leaders of industrialized nations will 
discuss ways we can work together to advance trade, fight disease, 
promote development that works, increase access to education, and 
address the long-term challenge of global climate change.

[[Page 740]]

    It is in America's interests to help these efforts succeed. When we 
help lift societies out of poverty, we create new markets for American 
goods and new jobs for American workers. When we help reduce chaos and 
suffering, we make America safer, because prosperous nations are less 
likely to breed violence and export terror. And this week, my 
administration took several important steps to advance peace and 
opportunity across the world.
    On Tuesday, America took new actions to address the ongoing genocide 
in Darfur. On my orders, the Department of Treasury tightened our 
existing economic sanctions against Sudan and imposed additional ones. I 
also directed Secretary Rice to work with our allies on a new U.N. 
Security Council resolution that will seek to impose new sanctions, 
expand the arms embargo, and prohibit Sudan's Government from conducting 
offensive military flights over this troubled region. The people of 
Darfur have suffered long enough. We will not avert our eyes from a 
crisis that challenges the conscience of the world.
    On Wednesday, the United States demonstrated leadership on another 
crisis affecting Africa: HIV/AIDS. In 2003, my administration launched a 
$15 billion Emergency Plan for AIDS relief, and that plan has supported 
treatment for more than 1 million people. This is a good start, but only 
a start. So I've asked Congress to double our initial commitment for 
HIV/AIDS prevention to $30 billion over the next 5 years. By making this 
commitment now, we will help deliver lifesaving treatment, prevent new 
infections, and support care for millions of people across Africa.
    As we fight violence and disease, America is also using its 
influence to help struggling countries transform themselves into free 
and hopeful societies. And on Thursday, I announced three new 
initiatives that will help the developing world.
    The first initiative is a new project called the African Financial 
Sector Initiative. This initiative will help bring African nations the 
technical assistance they need to strengthen their financial markets. 
And it will encourage the international financial community to create 
several new private equity funds that will mobilize up to $1 billion of 
new private investment in Africa. By taking these steps, we can help 
African entrepreneurs access capital, so they can grow their businesses 
and create jobs across the continent.
    The second initiative is a new effort to help more of the world's 
poorest children get an education. In 2002, my administration launched 
the Africa Education Initiative, which has provided about $300 million 
to improve educational opportunities throughout that continent. Now, 
with the support of Congress, we will devote an additional $525 million 
over the next 5 years to help provide a quality basic education for up 
to 4 million children in poor nations. With this initiative, we will 
help young people get the skills they need to succeed and a chance to 
achieve their dreams.
    The third initiative is a proposal to help developing nations meet 
their growing energy needs while protecting the environment and 
addressing the challenge of global climate change. Under my proposal, by 
the end of next year, America and other nations will set a long-term 
global goal for reducing greenhouse gases. And to meet this goal, we 
must help developing countries harness the power of technology. The 
United States is investing billions of dollars in clean energy 
technologies and coming up with new ways to share these technologies 
with other nations. Through the spirit of innovation, we will help 
developing nations grow their economies and be responsible stewards of 
the environment.
    In all these endeavors, the American people can be proud of our 
global leadership and generosity. Our Nation is delivering aid and 
comfort to those in need. We're helping expand opportunity across the 
world. We're laying the foundation for a more peaceful and hopeful 
future for all our citizens.
    Thank you for listening.

Note: The address was recorded at 7 a.m. on June 1 in the Cabinet Room 
at the White House for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on June 2. The transcript 
was made available by the Office of the Press Secretary on June 1 but 
was embargoed for release until the broadcast. The Office of the Press 
Secretary also released a Spanish language transcript of this address.

[[Page 741]]