25 January 2008

Bush Traveling to Africa February 15-21

President to visit Benin, Tanzania, Rwanda, Ghana and Liberia

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THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
January 25, 2008

STATEMENT BY THE PRESS SECRETARY

President and Mrs. Bush will travel to Africa from February 15-21, 2008.  They will visit Benin, Tanzania, Rwanda, Ghana, and Liberia.  This trip will be an opportunity for the President to review firsthand the significant progress since his last visit in 2003 in efforts to increase economic development and fight HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other treatable diseases, as a result of the United States' robust programs in these areas.

The President will meet with President Yayi, President Kikwete, President Kagame, President Kufuor, and President Johnson-Sirleaf to discuss how the United States can continue to partner with African countries to support continued democratic reform, respect for human rights, free trade, open investment regimes, and economic opportunity across the continent.

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(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)