06 October 2003
Bush Reaffirms Strategic Relationship, Partnership With Kenya
Holds discussions with Kenyan President Kibaki at White House
By Charles W. Corey
Washington File Staff Writer
Washington -- President Bush welcomed Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki to the White House October 6 declaring, "Today we affirm the growing strategic relationship between the United States and the African continent. And we continue the long-standing partnership between the United States and Kenya."
Speaking to reporters following their meeting, Bush praised the Kenyan leader's democratically elected government. Kibaki is the first African leader to be honored by a state visit by the current Bush administration.
"President Kibaki's election last December showed Kenyans and Africans and people throughout the world the power of the ballot and the benefits of peaceful, democratic change." The president, Bush noted, "won a mandate for reform [and is] moving ahead with an ambitious agenda: redrafting Kenya's constitution, liberalizing its economy, fighting corruption and investing in education and health care.
"With these steps," Bush predicted, "Kenya will attract investment, strengthen its role in the world and improve the lives of its people."
Bush went on to caution, however, that "success will take time, and progress may sometimes seem uneven. Yet, the benefits of democracy and freedom and investment in people are certain and they are lasting."
President Kibaki said the two leaders' "discussions centered on bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual interest to our two nations."
He said he was particularly "encouraged by a keen interest and concern that President Bush has shown on issues affecting Kenya and Africa -- in particular, the establishment of a Millennium Challenge Account and the $15 billion U.S. HIV-AIDS program bears testimony to this particular commitment."
Bush said a prime focus of his talks with Kibaki centered on the two countries growing alliance on the war on terror.
"In Nairobi and Mombasa and beyond, terrorists have made Kenya a battleground," Bush said, and he praised Kenyan security forces for disrupting terror operations and arresting suspected terrorists.
Bush recalled an announcement he made earlier this year of a $100 million counter-terrorism initiative to provide East Africa with training, equipment and assistance to strengthen the security forces of countries in the region. "Kenya is our key partner in this initiative," he stressed, and "its government clearly has the will to fight terror -- and my government will continue to give them the help they need to do so."
Additionally, both leaders, according to Bush, discussed efforts to achieve peace in Sudan. Bush credited Kenya with playing the leading role in that effort, while pledging, "America will stay engaged in this effort."
The two presidents, Bush said, also discussed Somalia. "We will continue to work with Kenya to bring unity and reconciliation to a badly divided land," Bush pledged. The establishment of an effective representative government in Somalia, Bush said, "will help stabilize the region and dispel the hopelessness that feeds terror."
On HIV/AIDS, Bush said he and President Kibaki "share a deep commitment to waging a broad, effective effort against the AIDS virus, which afflicts nearly 30 million people on the African continent.
"In Kenya alone," Bush noted, "some one million children have been orphaned due to AIDS. I fully support the president's declaration of total war -- his words -- on this disease, and I'm proud to stand with him."
The United States, according to Bush, is Kenya's largest bilateral donor in the fight against HIV/AIDS. "Our support will grow under my emergency plan for AIDS relief, which is a firm commitment to spend $15 billion over five years to turning the tide against this disease," he said.
On economic and trade matters, Bush told Kibaki "America also stands with you in your work of modernizing the Kenyan economy, rewarding the enterprise of your people. Trade and growth are the only sure ways to lift people and nations out of poverty."
Bush also reemphasized his commitment to keeping America's markets open to African goods and to increasing commercial ties with African nations. "Kenya is one of America's most important economic partners in Africa. American investment in Kenya totals more than $285 million, and trade between our two countries tops $400 million per year," he said.
Bush credited those increased trade figures to the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).
Concluding, Bush reminded everyone "Kenya and the United States are old friends working together to face new challenges. Our relationship is strong and it's growing stronger and I'm grateful for the leadership and vision of the president."
President Kibaki said the leaders "reaffirmed our mutual desire to further deepen our cooperation for the benefit of our two countries."
Additionally, President Bush, according to Kibaki, welcomed the efforts made by Kenya in consolidating democracy, particularly after the successful general elections of December, 2002. "We share the common desire to promote and entrench democracy in Africa, and the need to support Kenya as a model of democracy," Kibaki said.
Kibaki told reporters he briefed President Bush on the priorities of his government, which includes economic revival, education, health and security, and he said he is "pleased by the willingness of the Bush administration to support our efforts to promote and sustain our economic recovery" and help fight the HIV/AIDS pandemic.
Both leaders, according to Kibaki, also "discussed at length" the issue of terrorism. "Kenya, like United States, has in the past suffered at the hands of terrorism. The attacks have strengthened our resolve to intensify and enhance our cooperation with the United States and the international community in the fight against terrorism."
On Somalia, Kibaki said he emphasized that in order to maintain the democratic gains and to sustain the war against terrorism, it is essential that Somalia becomes stable and that the United States remains engaged in the peace process there.
Following talks at the White House, Secretary of State Colin Powell hosted a luncheon honoring President Kibaki at the State Department. President Kibaki returned to the White House later in the day to attend a state dinner in his honor.
(The Washington File is a product of the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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