[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 43, Number 39 (Monday, October 1, 2007)]
[Pages 1250-1251]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks During a Meeting With the United Nations Security Council in New 
York City

September 25, 2007

    Mr. President, thank you. And thank you for convening this meeting 
of the United Nations Security Council. I appreciate the opportunity to 
join you. And I appreciate your focus is--your focus on the challenges 
to peace and security in Africa, particularly in Sudan and Darfur.
    The reason I say that is, my Nation has labeled what's taking place 
in Darfur as genocide, and when we find genocide, it's time to do 
something about it. Time is of the essence. And so, Mr. President, 
you're focusing our attention on this crucial matter.
    I want to thank the Secretary-General, as well, for your support of 
the people of Darfur. I appreciate your determination to make relieving 
their suffering a priority of the United Nations.
    And I want to thank Chairperson Konare for the leadership of the 
African Union. After all, you deployed 7,000 troops. But 7,000 troops is 
not enough, if you believe what's taking place on the ground is 
genocide. Now maybe some don't think it's genocide, but if you've been 
raped, you think it's--your human rights have been violated. If you're 
mercilessly killed by roaming bands, you know it's genocide. And the 
fundamental question is, are we the free world willing to do more? 
You've made a strong effort, and we appreciate you. But you know better 
than me that the area of Darfur is bigger than France, or Texas, and 
both are plenty big for 7,000 troops.
    Your Excellencies, the fighting in Darfur between the rebels and the 
Government continues. Two hundred thousand people have lost their lives; 
200,000 innocents are no

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longer with us. More than 2 million people have been forced from their 
homes. They're fleeing the violence. And they go into refugee camps, and 
they head into neighboring countries like Chad and Central African 
Republic.
    And that's why I appreciate your leadership, Mr. President, to help 
these countries help these refugees. The resolution adopted today 
addresses the plight of the refugees in Chad and Central African 
Republic. In other words, it's a step in the right direction. It's a 
practical solution to a big problem. It's a part of a grand solution, 
Mr. President. That's why your leadership is appreciated.
    The resolution authorizes the deployment to these two nations of a 
robust European peacekeeping force and several hundred police and 
military advisers. This U.N. mission is going to help national and local 
governments exercise sovereignty over their territory. It's going to 
allow workers to deliver humanitarian aid. That makes us feel good. 
We're spending $2 billion so far on providing aid, and we want to make 
sure our aid gets to the people who need help.
    And that's why the United States strongly supports the resolution 
and the mission. We continue to support swift implementation of existing 
resolutions of this Council. We want the words of this Council to mean 
something. We want it to be said, when the Council speaks on behalf of 
suffering people, those words will be followed by action.
    And so we call on the Government in Khartoum to facilitate the 
deployment of a robust U.N. peacekeeping force to save life. We call on 
all parties to cease arm sales to the combatants. We expect people 
gathered around this table to send a focused message that innocent life 
matters. We expect President Bashir to observe a cease-fire during next 
month's peace talks, and we want the rebels to do the same.
    We're tired--the message has got to be, we're tired of people trying 
to escape the noose of pressure. We want the pressure to be uniform. 
Why? Because we believe in universal freedom and peace.
    The conflict in Darfur has claimed too many lives, and there's too 
much suffering. The innocent victims of this conflict want only to 
return to their homes. They want to live in peace. And it's our duty to 
help them realize that dream.
    Thank you, Mr. President.

Note: The President spoke at 3:35 p.m. in the Security Council Chamber 
at United Nations Headquarters. In his remarks, he referred to President 
Nicolas Sarkozy of France, in his capacity as President of the United 
Nations Security Council; Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon of the United 
Nations; Alpha Oumar Konare, Chairperson, Commission of the African 
Union; and President Umar Hassan Ahmad al-Bashir of Sudan.