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made by the OAU Mechanism for Con- William Jefferson Clinton, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, flict Prevention, Management and Res- President of the United States of President of the Republic olution, and by emerging sub-regional America. of Uganda. bodies, such as the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development, to foster Af- Daniel T. arap Moi, Pasteur Bizimungu, rican-led approaches to conflict preven- President of the Republic of President of the Republic tion, management and resolution and Kenya. of Rwanda. pledge to work towards building further international support for these efforts. Benjamin William Mkapa, Laurent Desire Kabila, President of the United Republic President of the Demo- On Pursuing the Partnership Into the of Tanzania. cratic Republic of Congo. Future: The Heads of State and Government Meles Zenawi, Prime Minister of the Federal unanimously agree to explore mechanisms Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. for regular consultations and encounters at the highest level between African and U.S. Entebbe, Uganda leaders. Noting the importance of mutual un- 25. March, 1998 derstanding between African and American citizens, we call for expanded cultural and NOTE: The joint statement was made available by educational exchanges. the Office of the Press Secretary but was not The African leaders noted with apprecia- issued as a White House press release. An original tion President Clinton’s historic visit to Africa was not available for verification of the content and express the hope that his presence on of this joint statement. the continent has opened a new chapter in Africa-U.S. relations. The Heads of State and Government recognize that the development Remarks at the Entebbe Summit for of a lasting partnership, characterized by Peace and Prosperity shared ownership and meaningful engage- March 25, 1998 ment, will require commitment, time and pa- tience. The Leaders commit themselves to President Museveni, President Moi, Prime pursue this objective in the spirit of mutual Minister Meles, President Bizimungu, Presi- respect, to deepen a frank and honest dia- dent Mkapa, President Kabila, Secretary logue, to evaluate jointly progress made in General Salim, to our distinguished guests, the months ahead, and to secure a meaning- all. Let me, first of all, thank the representa- ful and lasting partnership for the 21st Cen- tives of all the governments who are here tury. and the leaders who have come to Entebbe The President of the U.S.A. and the Afri- to share a common vision of a brighter future can Heads of State and Government express for this region. deep appreciation to President Yoweri We seek to deepen the progress that has Kaguta Museveni, the Government and the been made and to meet the tough challenges people of Uganda for the warm hospitality that remain. We came to Entebbe because accorded to them during their visit to Ugan- we share a commitment to strengthen our da. cooperation, to build a partnership for the 21st century that will benefit all our people. Done at Entebbe, Uganda on Wednesday 25 We understand, and the last statement I March, 1998. made at our meeting was, that these goals will not be met in one meeting or one day

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or one year. But we have formed a solid foun- A key part of our effort is expanding the dation for progress in the future. Our chal- ties of trade and investment between our lenge as we leave Entebbe is to bring to life countries so that African development and the commitment in the remarkable docu- Asian growth—and American growth, excuse ment we have just signed. me, reinforce one another. We want to re- What is in the document? First, we have ward each other for working together. Before agreed to deepen our efforts to promote de- I left for Africa, I told the American people mocracy and respect for human rights, the that it was in our interest to help Africa grow precious soil in which peace and prosperity and blossom and reach its full potential. I grow. When men and women alike are treat- believe that. ed with dignity, when they have a say in deci- I want to thank the Members of the sions that affect their lives, societies are bet- United States House of Representatives who ter equipped to seize the opportunities of the are on this trip with me for their leadership future. in the passage in the House of the ‘‘African We have emphasized the importance of Growth and Opportunity Act.’’ I am commit- freely elected, accountable governments; af- ted to the swift passage of that act in the firmed the vital role of civic organizations in United States Senate and to signing it when building strong and vibrant societies; and I return home. I am very pleased that our pledged to uphold humanitarian principles, Overseas Private Investment Corporation including the protection and care of refugees. will be targeting half a billion dollars for in- America knows from our own experience frastructure investment in sub-Saharan Afri- that there is no single blueprint for a success- ca. ful democracy. We’re still working in our Third, we have agreed to work together country to create what our Founders called to banish genocide from this region and this ‘‘a more perfect Union.’’ We’ve been at it for 222 years now. But we also know that continent. Every African child has the right while there is no single blueprint, freedom to grow up in safety and peace. We condemn nonetheless is a universal aspiration. Human the perpetrators of the continued atrocities rights are not bestowed on the basis of wealth in Rwanda and pledge to work together to or race, of gender or ethnicity, of culture or end the horrors of this region. That means region. They are the birthright of all men reviving the U.N. Arms Flow Commission; and women everywhere. acting on the recommendations of the OAU If we work together to strengthen democ- study on the Rwandan genocide and its after- racy and respect human rights, we can help math; encouraging accelerated progress in this continent reach its full potential in the bringing criminals against humanity to jus- 21st century, its true greatness, which has too tice; denying safe havens or services to ex- long been denied. We can deepen the ties tremist organizations; and developing dura- among our peoples. We can be a force for ble justice systems that are credible, impar- good together, and all our nations can be tial, and effective. Our efforts come too late proud. for yesterday’s victims. They must be in time Second, we have agreed to work together to prevent tomorrow’s victims. to build a new economic future where the Here today—and this is very important— talents of Africa’s people are unleashed, the we have pledged to find new ways to work doors of opportunity are opened to all, and together to solve conflicts before they ex- countries move from the margins to the plode into crises and to act to stop them more mainstream of the global economy. We com- quickly when they do. mitted to work on finding new strategies to We have pursued our discussion in a spirit hasten Africa’s global integration. We of candor and mutual respect, and I want pledged to speed the regional cooperation to thank all the participants for being honest that is already underway, to encourage com- and open in our conversations. America mon standards for openness and shares a stake in Africa’s success, as I said. anticorruption, to continue to be responsive If African nations become stronger, as they to the burden of debt. surely will, if they become more dynamic,

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as they clearly are, we can become even bet- dren, and they’re helping themselves. And ter partners in meeting our common chal- I want you to go and see it.’’ lenges. Your stability, your security, your And perhaps you have this situation in your prosperity will add to our own. And our vital- family, but when Hillary says she wants me ity can and must contribute to yours. to go and see something, that means: You I’ve learned a lot here in Entebbe today, are going to see this at the first moment. listening—and will carry back to Washington, [Laughter] as I’m sure the rest of our delegation will. So we got in late last night, and we got We’ve agreed to build on this summit with up this morning, and we came out here. I regular, high-level meetings. We will look for thank Mrs. Mbeki back there for showing us results of our efforts not only in statements her home. Thank you, ma’am, and congratu- like this one today, with very high visibility, lations to you on your nice home. And I thank but in quiet places far from the halls of gov- the ladies who are here who let me visit their ernment, in communities and households all construction project. And I said almost 30 across our countries, where ordinary men years ago I actually spent the whole summer and women strive each day to build strong building houses. And when I was out helping families, to find good jobs, to pass on better you I realized it’s pretty hard work, and that’s lives for their children. They are the reason why I went into politics, so I wouldn’t have we are here. And it is because of them that to work so hard anymore. [Laughter] we all leave Entebbe determined to put our Let me also say, on a serious note, I believe partnership into practice, to make our what you are doing here—building your dreams and ideals real. homes, saving for them, taking a small Thank you very much. amount of money and building a very nice house—should be a model for people who NOTE: The President spoke at 7:15 p.m. at the don’t have a lot of money all over Africa and Imperial Botanical Beach Hotel. In his remarks, all over the world. If you can do it here then he referred to President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni of Uganda; President Daniel T. arap Moi of in villages all over the world people can do Kenya; Prime Minister Meles Zenawi of Ethiopia; the same thing. President Pasteur Bizimungu of Rwanda; Presi- And I came here today partly in the hope dent Benjamin William Mkapa of Tanzania; Presi- that through the coverage from—— dent Laurent Desire Kabila of the Democratic [At this point, there was a gap in the tran- Republic of Congo; and Secretary General Salim script due to an incomplete audiotape. The Ahmed Salim, Organization of African Unity. A tape was not available for verification of the con- balance of the President’s remarks are joined tent of these remarks. in progress.] —that all over the world people will see what Remarks During a Visit to the you are doing in this neighborhood and say, Victoria Mxenge Housing Project in ‘‘I want my neighborhood to be like that. I want my children to live in good homes. I Cape Town, South Africa want them to have a good future. I want peo- March 26, 1998 ple to believe that they can do better with their lives.’’ And we intend to support you. Thank you very much. Madam Mayor, Pa- Today I’m pleased to announce that our tricia, thank you all for making us feel so wel- United States AID program, which supports come. projects like this, will spend another $3 mil- I really didn’t have a choice about coming lion this year to try to help build more houses here because my wife said to me when she to make more success stories so we can see got home one year ago from South Africa, more people like Mrs. Mbeki and her family. she said, ‘‘You will not believe this housing Thank you, and God bless you all. Thank project I visited. These women are building you. their own houses. They’re saving their own money. They’re moving out of shacks and NOTE: The President spoke at approximately shanty villages into nice neighborhoods with 11:45 a.m. In his remarks, he referred to Mayor good houses and a good future for their chil- Theresa Soloman of Cape Town, and Patricia

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