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This founding contribution by the U.S. supportive of the President’s initiatives to with the promise to do more will encourage provide peacekeepers in troubled countries or energize others to act. Africa, of course, on the African continent. is the continent that is most profoundly af- As many Americans may know—that we fected by the spread of HIV/AIDS, and the are in the process of helping provide tech- continent most in need of hope for a better nical assistance to Nigerian troops so that future. they are better able to keep those peace mis- The peoples and the leaders of the con- sions. We talked about the program. We’ve tinent are rising to the challenge, as Presi- completed two phases of the training. We’re dent Obasanjo showed most recently by in the process of completing the third phase hosting the Abuja AIDS Summit. However, of an agreed-upon training program. we must not forget that other parts of the The short of it is that Nigeria is a friend world, from the Caribbean to Asia to eastern of America, and the President is a friend of Europe, are also confronting the spread of mine. It has been my honor to welcome him this virus and need urgent assistance. here. I look forward to working with him in Mr. President, it is my hope that your com- the future. mitment today will set an example for other Mr. President. leaders. When we meet at the General As- President Obasanjo. Thank you very sembly Special Session on HIV/AIDS on the much, sir. I want to take this opportunity to 25th of June in New York City, there will thank President Bush for the invitation to be a strong support for the global AIDS and visit the United States of America at this par- health fund. As that happens, I believe today ticular time and to be able to establish our will be remembered as the day we began to relationship and, at the same time, be able turn the tide. to cover the important areas, ground—of im- Thank you very much. portant areas of bilateral relations of areas President Bush. It has been my honor to of concern in our subregion of west Africa, host this very important announcement. It’s areas of concern in Africa, particularly areas also my honor to recognize two Members of of—that are ravaged by war and conflict, the United States Congress who are going such as Angola, Democratic Republic of the to work with this administration to make sure Congo, Sierra Leone, and so on. that our commitment becomes reality: Sen- And what we are doing in these areas, we ator Frist and Senator Leahy. We’re so briefed the President. And of course, we thrilled you’re here. We appreciate your vi- have the support of the Government of the sion, and we appreciate your leadership. United States in our peacekeeping and con- Thank you all for coming. flict resolution efforts in Africa. We discussed other issues that are of im- NOTE: The President spoke at 10:10 a.m. in the Rose Garden at the White House. portance to us. We discussed the MAP, the Millennium African Plan, which initially was originated by President Thabo Mbeki, Presi- Remarks Following Discussions With dent Bouteflika, and myself, and which now President Olusegun Obasanjo of has been extended to take on Egypt—Presi- Nigeria dent Mubarak, and President Wade of Sen- May 11, 2001 egal. We also look at issues that have been on President Bush. We just concluded a se- the table before and that we are working to- ries of discussions, and a good lunch, with gether on. For instance, how do we prepare the delegation from Nigeria. The President our troops for these increasing peacekeeping and I also had some private time to visit roles in Africa, and the systems that we have about issues of mutual concern. I am—we got in the past from the U.S. Government, discussed issues such as trade, the environ- for which we are very grateful and which we ment. believe will continue, to really make our Obviously, we discussed health issues that troops to be able to perform adequately in relate to the continent of Africa. We are very peacekeeping roles?

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We, of course, reiterated the friendship defendants have been treated fairly. This de- and the cordiality between Nigeria and the cision is going to create some frustration United States. And of course, I am happy amongst people whose lives were destroyed to be able to make a friend of President and turned upside-down by Mr. McVeigh. Bush, just as you heard President Bush had But it is very important for our country to made a friend of me. I now can feel that make sure that in death penalty cases, people if there is any need to call on President Bush, are treated fairly. he knows what I look like. [Laughter] I am I’ll be glad to answer some questions, start- not a no-person to him. He knows how I ing with Mr. Fournier [Ron Fournier, Associ- smile. He may even be feeling how I look ated Press]. on telephone. [Laughter] And that is one important thing, that we Timothy McVeigh made contact. We established a relationship, Q. Mr. President, thank you, sir. Attorney and we are friends. General Ashcroft, on the topic you were just Thank you very much. talking about, said, ‘‘There is no doubt in my President Bush. Mr. President, thank you mind, or anyone’s mind, about the death of very much. It’s an honor for you to be here. Timothy McVeigh.’’ Thank you. First, as someone who signed 152 death warrants in Texas, do you agree that there NOTE: The President spoke at 1:01 p.m. at the is no doubt that McVeigh is guilty? And sec- South Portico at the White House. President ondly, did Louis Freeh know about these Obasanjo referred to President Thabo Mbeki of documents when he tendered his resigna- South Africa; President Abdelaziz Bouteflika of Algeria; President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt; and tion? President Abdoulaye Wade of Senegal. The President. Mr. Freeh, Director Freeh never brought this up to me. I found out about this last evening. My conversation The President’s News Conference with Mr. Freeh, when he came and said he May 11, 2001 was leaving—the subject never came up. Secondly, Mr. McVeigh himself has admit- The President. Good afternoon. First, let ted to the crime. Mr. McVeigh, as I recall, me begin by talking about how pleased I am said he did it, and I take him for his word. that a budget has been agreed upon. And Q. Mr. President? it’s now time for the Congress to act quickly. The President. Actually, I’ve been given It’s time for the Congress to pass meaningful, an order. You’re second, Steve [Steve real tax reform, and I urge them to do so Holland, Reuters]. before Memorial Day. Tax relief will be good for our economy, Gasoline Prices but tax relief is also a very important way Q. Mr. President, thank you very much, to help deal with high energy prices. And sir. A lot of families are struggling to pay for so the Congress needs to act. I’m confident gasoline at record prices. What can you do if they have the will to do so, that they can, to help them in the short term? Will your that they can get this done before Memorial energy report address that? And do you agree Day. with your Energy Secretary, that OPEC And secondly, I believe strongly that the bears some responsibility for these prices? Attorney General made the right decision The President. The price of crude oil has today. Any time we’re preparing to carry out got something to do with the price of gasoline the death penalty, we have a solemn but not nearly as much as the fact that we obligation to make sure that the case has haven’t built a refinery in years. What this been handled in full accordance with all the Nation needs to do is to build more refining guarantees of our Constitution. The very capacity. And we’re prepared to work with foundations of our democracy depend on our the industry to encourage capital develop- ability to assure our citizens that in all crimi- ment, capital to be deployed to develop more nal cases, and especially in the death penalty, refining capacity. And that may require us

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