Troubled with Israeli Helicopter Gunship Attacks
Photo Opportunity with Ugandan President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni
The Oval Office
The White House
Washington, D.C.
June 10, 2003
3:20 P.M. EDT

PRESIDENT BUSH: It's my honor to welcome President Museveni back to the White House. Mr. President, you have shown extraordinary leadership on a lot of issues, but the one issue that's really captured the imagination and the hearts of the American people is your extraordinary leadership on HIV/AIDS in your country. You've shown the world what is possible, and I want to congratulate you for that leadership.

I also want to thank you for your steadfast support on the war against terror. And I'm glad you're here.

Before we begin our discussions I do want to say something on the Middle East. I am troubled by the recent Israeli helicopter gunship attacks. I regret the loss of innocent life. I'm concerned that the attacks will make it more difficult for the Palestinian leadership to fight off terrorist attacks. I also don't believe the attacks help the Israeli security. I've been in touch with all parties in the region. I am determined to keep the process on the road to peace. And I believe with responsible leadership by all parties, we can bring peace to the region. And I emphasize, all parties must behave responsibly to achieve that objective.

So, Mr. President, I'm glad you're here. Welcome. I'd like for you to make a few comments, please, sir.

PRESIDENT MUSEVENI: Thank you, sir. I'm very glad that I'm here. First of all, I congratulate President Bush for his leadership in fighting terrorism. Terrorism is a very irresponsible way for expressing one's dissatisfaction. It uses indiscriminate violence. It doesn't discriminate between combatants and non-combatants. That's why we oppose terrorism.

We fought with guns for the freedom of our countries. I fought for many years, but I've never used terrorist means. Freedom fighting is not the same thing as terrorism. If you must use violence, you should assure that violence is directed at the combatant, not at the non-combatant.

Secondly, I salute President Bush for his decision a few years ago to open American markets to African value-added products. You hear so much of poverty in Africa, but, in fact, Africa is a very rich continent. The only problem is that we must simply move the value to the outside. We export only raw materials, we don't export value-added products. So I'm very glad that President Bush opened the American market for our goods.

I'm also glad that he set up the Millennium Challenge Account. That money should be used to aid trade. I don't believe in aid as an end in itself. I believe in trade. Trade is one that can lead to mutual benefits for all countries in the world. Therefore, aid should be ahead of trade, should aid in order to trade.

And, finally, I thank him for the money set up for the AIDS fund, the $15 billion. So I really am glad I'm here. We shall discuss more in our private discussion.

PRESIDENT BUSH: Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you for coming.

PRESIDENT MUSEVENI: Thank you.

END 3:25 P.M. EDT