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06 November 2009

Obama Welcomes President of Botswana to White House

Botswana is “extraordinary” success story, Obama says

 

A statue of Seretse Khama, the first president of Botswana and father of current president Ian Khama, stands outside the Parliament building in Gaborone. Speaking in the Oval Office as President Khama looked on, Obama told reporters that since the mid-1960s, Botswana has “moved on a path of good economic management and outstanding political governance.”

A statue of Seretse Khama, the first president of Botswana and father of Ian Khama, stands outside the Parliament building in Gaborone.

By Charles W. Corey
Staff Writer

Washington — Hailing Botswana as “truly one of the extraordinary success stories in Africa,” President Obama welcomed that country’s president, Ian Khama, to the White House for talks November 5.

Since the mid-1960s, Botswana has “moved on a path of good economic management and outstanding political governance,” Obama said. “And as a consequence, you have seen extraordinary improvements in living standards over the last 40 years in Botswana that really are an envy for much of the rest of the continent.”

Not only has Botswana shown itself to be an “outstanding success,” Obama said, but the southern Africa country has been “a great partner to the United States.” Both governments have cooperated extensively throughout the years, he said.

President Khama said he appreciated having the opportunity to meet with Obama and to share views on the bilateral cooperation between the United States and Botswana. The two countries have worked together on areas such as trade and health, and have consulted on “how both countries are tackling this current economic downturn.”

Khama said both leaders also discussed environmental issues, climate change and the December 7-18 Copenhagen conference. The two also reviewed regional issues “and how we can try and go about entrenching democracy both in the mind-set and the way we go about all our activities on the continent [and with] the African Union in particular.”

Obama praised President Khama for “showing his own extraordinary leadership in helping to move his country forward on a range of issues, from how to deal with the HIV/AIDS crisis to addressing economic development to dealing with some of the regional problems that exist.”

“On each of these areas I think Botswana has been a real leader,” he said, “and so we just want to express our appreciation for the outstanding work that successive governments in Botswana have been to able to accomplish. We are grateful for the friendship between the people of the United States and Botswana.”

Obama said he is “looking forward to continuing that strong partnership in the years to come.”

A transcript of Obama’s and Khama’s remarks is available on the White House Web site.