[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 44, Number 8 (Monday, March 3, 2008)]
[Pages 273-279]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks to the Leon H. Sullivan Foundation

February 26, 2008

    Thanks for coming. I appreciate the warm welcome. Last Thursday, 
Laura and I returned from a 6-day visit to Africa. It happened to be her 
fifth visit and my second. Without a doubt, this was the most exciting, 
exhilarating, uplifting trip I've taken since I've been the President. 
It was an unbelievable experience.
    And I want to thank the Sullivan Foundation for letting me come by 
to visit with you about the trip. And I appreciate the good work they're 
doing on behalf of the people on the continent of Africa. Hope, thank 
you very much for introducing me and inviting me back. It's always an 
honor to be with Andrew Young, chairman of the board of directors of 
Leon Sullivan.
    By the way, I should have recognized Carl Masters, your husband--
[laughter]. That was a major faux pas, just like I should have 
recognized that my wife, unfortunately, is not here, but she sends her 
very best regards.
    I do appreciate very much Ambassador Howard Jeter for his service to 
the United States. I thank the members of the Leon H. Sullivan 
Foundation who are with us. Pleased to see members of the diplomatic 
corps who have joined us.
    I'm honored that Congressman Donald Payne, who is the chairman of 
the Africa and Global Health Subcommittee, has joined us today. Thank 
you for coming, Mr. Chairman. He's knowledgeable about the issues on the 
continent of Africa, and that's good. And I want to thank you for your 
interest and your diligence. Sheila Jackson Lee--she's supposed to be 
here. If she's not here, I'll give her an excused absence--after all, 
she is from Texas.
    I appreciate so very much Jendayi Frazer. She is a--[applause]. I 
probably won't have to say anything else. [Laughter] She's been awesome 
to work with, in putting this strategy in place.
    I appreciate very much Rear Admiral Tim Ziemer. He's in charge of 
the malaria initiative. Admiral Ziemer, he's a no-nonsense guy. I hope 
people have come to realize I am too. I'm not interested in promises; 
I'm interested in results. That's why I went to Africa, to see results 
firsthand. Admiral Ziemer, we're getting great results on the malaria 
initiative thanks to your leadership.
    Lloyd Pierson, President and CEO of the African Development 
Foundation--appreciate your leadership, Lloyd. Jody Olsen, Deputy 
Director of the Peace Corps--[applause]--contain yourselves. [Laughter] 
Although, I'll tell you--it's not a part of this speech, but I had a 
wonderful lunch with Peace Corps volunteers in Ghana. Our Peace Corps is 
full of compassionate, hard-working, decent people who are serving 
America on the frontlines of compassion. And I really can't thank the 
Peace Corps enough.
    Last time we met was at your summit in Nigeria, and that was during 
my first trip to Africa. You know, things have changed in Africa since 
then, I mean, striking changes. These changes are the result of a new 
generation of African leaders. They're reformers who are determined to 
steer their nations toward freedom and justice, prosperity and peace. 
They're also the result of new American policy and new American 
commitments.
    In my first term, we more than doubled development assistance to 
Africa. And at the beginning of my second term, I asked the United 
States Congress to double our assistance again. It is an important 
commitment that Congress can make. I'm looking forward

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to working to get these budgets out, Mr. Chairman.
    America is on a mission of mercy. We're treating African leaders as 
equal partners. We expect them to produce measurable results. We expect 
them to fight corruption and invest in the health and education of their 
people and pursue market-based economic policies. This mission serves 
our security interests. People who live in chaos and despair are more 
likely to fall under the sway of violent ideologies. This mission serves 
our moral interests. We're all children of God, and having the power to 
save lives comes with the obligation to use it.
    This mission rarely makes headlines in the United States. But when 
you go to Africa, it is a visible part of daily life, and there's no 
doubt that our mission is succeeding. You see it when you hold a baby 
that would have died of malaria without America's support. You see it 
when you look into the eyes of an AIDS patient who has been brought back 
to life. You see it in the quiet pride of a child going to school for 
the first time. And you see that turning away from this life-changing 
work would be a cause for shame.
    The best argument for our development programs is found in the 
people they benefit. So with the help of our fabulous White House 
photographers, I have assembled a slideshow--[laughter]--of images from 
our visit. And this morning it is my pleasure to share it with you.

[At this point, a slideshow was shown.]

    Our first stop was to the western African nation of Benin, where we 
touched down on a Saturday morning. Benin is a vibrant democracy with a 
rich history. It has a wise and determined leader in President Yayi. I 
was proud to be the first sitting American President to visit the 
country.
    At the airport, we were greeted by women and children wearing 
traditional dress, and they were dancing and playing drums. And they 
brought several hand-painted signs that the American people need to look 
at: ``Benin people and his President thank the whole U.S. people.'' 
``Beninese people will remember forever.''
    President Yayi and I had a productive meeting. He told me that the 
malaria initiative and our $307 million Millennium Challenge compact are 
helping alleviate poverty and save lives in his country. And I told him 
that America's support is a reflection of his commitment to govern 
justly and to tackle problems head on. I congratulated him on his effort 
to fight malaria, which apparently includes a national awareness day 
called George W. Bush Day. [Laughter] I pointed out to him that hasn't 
even happened in Texas. [Laughter]
    While President Yayi and I had our discussion, Laura and Mrs. Yayi 
met with girls who have received scholarships through our Africa 
Education Initiative. In Benin, these scholarships cover the cost of 
school supplies, such as uniforms and books and oil lanterns that allow 
students to read at night. Many of these girls are the first in their 
family to complete primary school. And their plans didn't stop there. 
Three girls told Laura that their goal is to become the first woman 
President of Benin.
    Laura and I left Benin impressed by the energy and determination of 
its people. Benin is an optimistic, it is a confident, and it is a 
capable nation. And it was a great place to begin our visit to Africa.
    Our next stop was Tanzania. We were met by President Kikwete and 
Mrs. Kikwete as well as Tanzanians. They were dancing, and they were 
playing great music. And there was also some unexpected fashion. 
[Laughter] I thought the dresses were pretty stylish. [Laughter] But my 
good wife reminded me that I shouldn't expect to see them flying off the 
shelves in American stores anytime soon. [Laughter]
    As we drove from the airport to our hotel, there were tens of 
thousands of people who lined the motorcade route to show their 
gratitude to the American people. And many of them were smiling, and 
they were waving, and they were holding flags. It was an unbelievable--
unbelievable sight.
    Sunday morning began with a meeting with President Kikwete at the 
State House. The President told me that relations between our nations 
are the best they have ever been. He said that America's support is 
helping Tanzania improve education and fight HIV/AIDS and dramatically 
reduce malaria. He gave me a memorable gift. Laura said we

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probably need another pet. [Laughter] I'm worried that Barney might be 
slightly intimidated.
    Following our meeting, we signed the largest Millennium Challenge 
compact in the history of the program. The $698 million agreement will 
support Tanzania's efforts to improve transportation and energy and its 
water supply. At a news conference, I again called for Congress to 
reauthorize the Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, to maintain the 
principles that have made it a success, and to double our initial 
commitment to $30 billion over the next 5 years. Then President Kikwete 
jumped in to say--and I want to quote him on this--``If this program is 
discontinued or disrupted, there would be so many people who lose hope; 
certainly, there will be death. My passionate appeal is for PEPFAR to 
continue.'' I couldn't agree more with the President. And I hope every 
Member of the United States Congress hears that appeal.
    They should also hear about the HIV/AIDS clinic at the Amana 
District Hospital, where Laura and I visited with the President and Mrs. 
Kikwete on Sunday afternoon. The clinic opened in 2004 with support from 
PEPFAR. And two thoughts struck me on the visit. First, this program is 
saving lives; there are tangible results. When I visited sub-Sahara 
Africa in 2003, 50,000 people were receiving medicine to treat HIV/AIDS. 
When I visited again last week, the number had grown to more than 1.3 
million.
    At the clinic, we visited with a man and woman who learned they had 
HIV while they were dating but went on to get treatment, get married, 
and have a little baby boy who is HIV-free. We saw many others who have 
new hope because of PEPFAR, including a 9-year-old girl who is HIV-
positive. She was smiling at the clinic with her grandmother because--
sitting at the clinic with her grandmother because her mom and dad had 
died of AIDS. For the past year, Catholic Relief Services has been 
paying for the girl to receive treatment at the clinic. And I want to 
tell you what her grandmother said: ``As a Muslim, I never imagined that 
a Catholic group would help me like that. I am so grateful to the 
American people.''
    The second important point is that PEPFAR is allowing African 
nations to lay the foundation for a health system that does more than 
treat HIV/AIDS. When patients report to the clinic, they are given a 
series of tests, they get results quickly from a laboratory on site, and 
they can receive treatment in the same place. I was struck by the 
devotion and the professionalism of the clinic's staff. They spoke 
proudly about the rigorous training they received and the meticulous way 
they instruct patients on how to take their medicine. One nurse said 
PEPFAR funds are helping them to treat more patients while providing 
more privacy. This is helping extend lives, reduce the stigma of HIV/
AIDS, and build the health infrastructure that will save many more lives 
in the future.
    On Monday, we traveled to the northern part of Tanzania. We passed 
Mount Kilimanjaro and drove past a lot of people who were lining the 
street on the way to the city of Arusha. Of course, that's where the 
Sullivan Foundation is going to have its next meeting. You'll like it up 
there. [Laughter] And the people will like seeing you.
    It's also on the frontlines of Tanzania's fight against malaria. 
Laura and I visited the Meru District Hospital, and we saw moms and 
babies that were overcoming this disease. When new mothers bring their 
babies, the hospital immediately tests them for malaria and HIV. Nurses 
distribute bed net vouchers, which mothers can use to buy insecticide-
treated bed nets from local retailers at a 75-percent discount. I was 
concerned about the 75-percent discount, and so I announced a new 
effort, and that is to distribute an additional 5.2 million bed nets 
free of charge. And that would be enough for every child in Tanzania 
between the ages of 1 and 5. It is irresponsible to sit on the sidelines 
knowing that young babies are needlessly dying across the continent of 
Africa and elsewhere. And I was really pleased to be able to kick off 
this new initiative by handing out bed nets to this young mother.
    So it made sense to go to the local factory where the bed nets are 
produced--called A to Z Textiles. On the floor of the newly opened 
facility, we saw the nets produced in a clean, safe working environment. 
The owner explained that the factory employs

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1,200 local workers. If we're helping projects in Africa, we want those 
projects to employ people from the country in which we're helping. And 
the vast majority of those workers are women.
    He takes great pride in supplying bed nets to Zanzibar, where the 
percentage of infants--I want you to hear this--where the percentage of 
infants infected with malaria has dropped from about 20 percent to less 
than 1 percent in 2 years. He called America--the American people's 
efforts to fight malaria ``a godsend.'' And I agree. I thanked him for 
his good work and was honored to see stacks of these lifesaving nets 
bearing the name of the United States of America.
    In the afternoon, we visited a Maasai girls' school, where we 
received an unbelievably stirring welcome from the students. This school 
is led by a Catholic nun--who was on my left--empowers girls who have 
long lacked education. The girls receive scholarships from our Africa 
Education Initiative. The girls sang these lyrics: ``Look at us. Listen 
to our voices. Today we can study because of the American people.'' It 
was a stirring anthem. We also met a group of Maasai men. These guys can 
flag jump. [Laughter] Unbelievably powerful experience for Laura and me, 
and it was a great way to close our visit to Tanzania.
    Early Tuesday morning, we headed to Rwanda. After flying over Lake 
Victoria, we touched down in the beautiful city of Kigali. We were 
greeted by Rwanda's thoughtful and effective leader, President Paul 
Kagame, along with Mrs. Kagame.
    Our first stop in Rwanda was to the Kigali Memorial Centre. Laura 
and I laid a wreath to honor the victims of the 1994 genocide. I don't 
know if our citizens understand this, but between 800,000 and a million 
people were murdered in a very short period of time. More than 250,000 
are buried at this memorial, and many of them were children, who are 
depicted in photographs that were donated by their families. This is a 
moving, moving memorial. One inscription read, ``Age 4. Enjoyed singing 
and dancing.'' And then it listed the brutal way in which this young 
girl was murdered. The memorial is a moving reminder that evil is real 
and we must confront it wherever it happens.
    The memorial centre is also a reminder of how far Rwanda has come in 
the past 14 years. During our meeting, President Kagame updated me on 
his country's dramatic and hopeful turnaround. Rwanda has taken bold 
steps to foster reconciliation, rebuild its devastated infrastructure, 
and to grow its economy. It is a hopeful country. And to build on this 
progress, the President and I signed a bilateral investment treaty, 
which will help attract more capital to Rwanda's dynamic economy.
    We're also cooperating on matters beyond Rwanda's borders. I thanked 
Rwanda for being the first nation to contribute peacekeepers to Darfur. 
And I announced that the United States has committed $100 million to 
assist African nations willing to step forward and serve the cause of 
peace in Darfur. I also had the honor of dedicating a new U.S. Embassy 
in Kigali, which is a sign of our lasting commitment and our deep 
friendship.
    Our final stop in Rwanda was a hillside school that is supported by 
PEPFAR, the emergency plan. It was a really interesting experience. We 
met with a lot of students and their parents. You know, this is a scene 
at the most popular club at the school, which is the Anti-Aids Club. The 
students told me about their ambitious projects, which include teaching 
abstinence and providing HIV/AIDS testing and counseling. Abstinence may 
be controversial in the Halls of Congress; it is not controversial on 
this campus. As a matter of fact, they put a skit on for us. In it, a 
girl is approached by a rich man who offers her gifts in exchange for 
sex. She calls it a ``ridiculous'' proposition and says, ``I'm not that 
kind of girl.''
    Laura and I departed Kigali inspired by the courage of the Rwanda 
people, grateful for their hospitality, and confident in their 
extraordinary potential for the future.
    Our fourth stop was Ghana. We received another warm welcome, with 
tens of thousands lining the street, including thousands of 
schoolchildren in their uniforms. I suspect they're really happy I came; 
they didn't have to go to school--[laughter]--at least until the 
motorcade passed.
    President Kufuor and I met at Osu Castle. It's a striking white 
building on the shore of the Atlantic. For generations, the castle was

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a post in the slave trade. And today, it is a seat of a proud and 
democratic Government. During our meeting, President Kufuor and I 
discussed the wide-ranging cooperation between the United States and 
Ghana.
    After the meeting, I added a new element to our partnership, a $350 
million initiative to target neglected tropical diseases like river 
blindness and hookworm across the globe. Needless to say, the President 
really welcomed this announcement.
    He spoke powerfully about the ideological struggle unfolding around 
the world, and he stressed the importance of America's continued 
engagement in Africa. Listen to his words: ``If the United States should 
lock itself into isolationism and think it is safer, then I would say, 
perhaps they don't know what is coming.'' Wise words from a wise man.
    Our next stop was a visit to the Embassy staff at the U.S. 
Ambassador's Residence in Accra. I think the audience was happy to see 
Laura and me--it seemed that way--but I know they were even more excited 
to see our surprise guest, reigning American Idol Jordin Sparks. This 
young child can sing. [Laughter] And she sang the national anthem that 
inspired all that were there. And I reminded people there that this 
spring, American Idol will again use its prominence across our TV 
screens to raise funds for malaria relief in Africa.
    After lunch, we went to a trade fair and met local merchants who 
export their products to the United States through AGOA. And my 
predecessor gets a lot of credit for getting AGOA out of the United 
States Congress, and I appreciate the Congress working to extend it 
again. This is a good program, and it's working.
    At the trade fair, we saw how the USAID helps these budding 
entrepreneurs secure financing and increase their access to the U.S. 
market. Sometimes we take entrepreneurship for granted. The spirit 
exists, but sometimes people just need a little help. And that's what 
we're doing.
    One group called Global Mamas specializes in helping women 
entrepreneurs find new places to sell their goods. With USAID help, the 
company has gone from 7 employees to about 300 employees in 5 years. 
Those are before Global Mamas.
    One woman named Esther runs a dressmaking company called My Redeemer 
Liveth. Since the trade hub opened, she's increased her exports and more 
than tripled her number of employees. She told me, ``I'm helping other 
women, and I'm helping my family too.''
    One of the keys to helping Africa succeed is to empower 
entrepreneurs. It is in our interest, as well, to open up trade and deal 
with subsidies and trade-distorting tariffs. And on the continent, I 
assured the leaders that I am firmly dedicated to coming up with a 
successful Doha round to make trade freer and fairer.
    After the trade fair, we drove to a local school for one of the best 
ways you can spend a sunny afternoon, and that's watching a ball game. 
In this case, it was a tee-ball game. One team featured players from a 
local orphanage. Americans have got to know, there's a lot of orphans on 
the continent of Africa as a result of disease and civil strife. It's in 
our interests to help the orphans, and we are. They were called the 
Little Dragons, and we played a team from a local school that happened 
to be called the Little Saints. [Laughter] And we saw some very talented 
players.
    We also met great coaches and mentors, many of them from our 
Embassy, who give their time to help the children improve themselves on 
the diamond and off. But this is more than a baseball program. This is a 
hopeful program. This is a program where people realize love. And this 
is a program where kids are able to develop aspirations and dreams. Some 
of them, of course, want to be big league players, but a lot of them--
and they'll find out, if they can't hit the curve ball, they won't be--
but a lot of them want to be doctors and pilots and engineers. One child 
told me, ``I want to be a fashion designer.'' [Laughter] It's in our 
interests that we help people realize their dreams.
    Laura spent time with Ghana's schoolchildren. Here she is with Mrs. 
Kufuor. They were treated to a kindergarten performance of a song about 
math, and they listened to a fifth grade debate. And she opened a 
library. Laura is a librarian. She loves the library; she loves books. 
And she opened up a reading hut built with support of USAID.

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And beneath the shade of the hut, she enjoyed some story time with eager 
young readers and a reading mascot. He's the guy on the left. [Laughter]
    That evening, the President hosted a spectacular state dinner. The 
night ended with an impromptu dance to a traditional beat called high 
life. Some of us put on a better performance than others. [Laughter] 
That is our Ambassador. [Laughter] She was somewhat taken aback--
[laughter]--as was Laura and most everybody else in the audience. 
[Laughter]
    I'm impressed by the President of Ghana. He is an example of a 
leader who has made right choices for his people. And it is in our 
interests to support such leaders.
    Early Thursday morning, we left Ghana for our final stop, which was 
Liberia. We were met by Africa's first democratically elected woman 
President, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. In her office in Monrovia, the 
President told me about the challenges her country faces and her 
detailed plan to meet them. She has assembled a wise group of advisers 
and ministers, many of whom were educated in the United States. And I 
took a little time there at the meeting to thank them for leaving our 
wonderful country to go back home and help this young democracy not only 
survive but to thrive. I told the President that I admire Liberia's 
recovery from war and that she could count on America to continue to 
stand by her side. And that's a commitment we must keep.
    The spirit of the Liberian people was unmistakable. We drove through 
the city. Again, there was some--a lot of folks lining the road, and 
they were cheering, and they were enthusiastic, and they were waving 
flags. I went to thank those who work at our Embassy, and I told them 
that the desire for freedom is universal. And it was interesting, the 
response from the Liberians in the audience, and they started shouting 
back, ``Yes!'' at the top of their lungs. They wanted America to hear 
their voices.
    When Liberian troops trained--Liberia troops who were trained with 
U.S. funds marched past us--the President and me reviewing the troops--
it was a proud moment. All of a sudden, you're beginning to see a force 
take place that will be disciplined and serve the people as opposed to 
intimidating the people. It's worth our interests and efforts to help 
train people--these governments train force to bring stability to their 
countries.
    But nothing sums up the new Liberia better than its approach to 
education. We had a roundtable at the University of Liberia. By the way, 
I'm pretty certain the President was educated at the University of 
Pennsylvania. The more people who come to be educated in the United 
States from abroad, the better off our country will be.
    This man here is getting U.S. help to train teachers and principals 
to help rebuild the country's school system. I met a 15-year-old boy who 
was once reading well below grade level, and he didn't like going to 
school; that's what he said to the crowd. Both Presidents sitting there, 
he said, ``I just didn't like going to school.'' And he was falling 
behind. And yet there's a USAID program to help students like him catch 
up, and now he wants to go to college. This woman I met told us that her 
husband left her and three children because she was illiterate. Pitiful 
excuse for not being--you know, standing up and being a good father. But 
nevertheless, it's what she said. And now she has learned to read, and 
she plans to go to college. And like a lot of other people we met, she 
wants to be the President of Liberia. [Laughter]
    The progress in Liberia is real, and it is inspiring. As a Liberian 
official put it during a prayer at one of our ceremonies--and these are 
prayerful people, and they're not afraid to pray in public--the nation 
has passed from ``the valley of despair to the buoyancy of new hope.'' 
The Liberian people have a distance to travel, but they do have an 
unshakable faith in liberty. And they got a faithful friend in the 
United States of America.
    And so throughout our trip, Laura and I were overwhelmed by the 
outpouring of warmth and affection for the American people. Again and 
again, we heard the same words: ``Thank you.'' Thank you for sparing 
lives from malaria and HIV/AIDS. Thank you for training teachers and 
bringing books to schools. Thank you for investing in infrastructure and 
helping our economies grow. Thank you for supporting freedom. And

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thank you for caring about the people in Africa.
    Americans should feel proud, mighty proud, of the work we're doing 
in Africa. At every stop, I told people that the source of all these 
efforts is the generosity of the American people. We are a nation of 
compassionate and good-hearted folks. We recognize the extraordinary 
potential of Africa. In schoolchildren waving flags on dusty roadsides 
to nurses caring for their patients at busy clinics to artisans selling 
their products in scorching heat, we saw people who have been given 
great challenges and responded to them with clear eyes and big hearts.
    In Rwanda, a schoolteacher was discussing the fight to eradicate 
malaria and AIDS with her class. And she explained her attitude this 
way: ``It can happen here.'' With those words, she summed up the new 
spirit of Africa: confident and determined and strong.
    This is a spirit worthy of America's support. It is more powerful 
than any partisan quarrels here in our Nation's Capital. And having 
given our word, we must not turn back now. Congress needs to make 
America's commitment clear by fully and promptly funding our development 
programs. And Presidential candidates of both parties should make clear 
that engagement with Africa will be an enduring priority of the United 
States.
    Laura and I are going to carry many fond memories from our trips to 
Africa. We will carry this clear conviction: With the continued support 
of America, the people of Africa can do more than survive; the people of 
Africa can succeed. God bless.

Note: The President spoke at 9:48 a.m. at the Marriott Wardman Park 
Hotel. In his remarks, he referred to Hope Masters, special adviser, 
Leon H. Sullivan Foundation, and her husband, Carlton A. Masters; Howard 
F. Jeter, president and chief executive officer, Leon H. Sullivan 
Foundation; Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Jendayi E. 
Frazer; President Thomas Yayi Boni of Benin and his wife, Chantal de 
Souza Yayi; President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete of Tanzania and his wife, 
Salma Kikwete; Anug Shah, owner, A to Z Textiles; President Paul Kagame 
of Rwanda and his wife, Jeannette Nyiramongi; President John Agyekum 
Kufuor of Ghana and his wife, Theresa Kufuor; entertainer Jordin Sparks; 
and U.S. Ambassador to Ghana Pamela E. Bridgewater.