*EPF407 07/10/2003
Bush Welcomed Exuberantly in Botswana
(President breaks ranks to greet crowds at airport) (910)

By Jim Fisher-Thompson
Washington File Staff Correspondent

Gaborone, Botswana -- Under a brilliant sun and sky, thousands of Botswanans greeted President Bush July 10 in the "Land of the Kalahari" with traditional African exuberance, singing, dancing and cheering as the president descended from Air Force One. Responding enthusiastically to the infectious welcome, Bush departed from his scripted arrival plan to greet the throngs who came to see him, shaking hands and being touched by many of the people lining the landing area at Sir Seretse Khama International Airport.

Bush and his wife Laura traveled to Gaborone from Pretoria, South Africa on the fourth day of his July 7-12 whirlwind tour of five African nations. He was joined by Secretary of State Colin Powell and National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice.

The celebratory atmosphere was apparent even before Botswanan President Festus Mogae and members of the Ditholwana Traditional Dance Troupe greeted Bush and his delegation on the airport tarmac. President Mogae set the tone by delighting the waiting crowd as he joined the youths as they practiced their dance.

Meanwhile, a brigade of local Coca Cola vendors wearing company shirts and hats pushed large red coolers on wheels, dispensing drinks among the crowds as a local character known as "King Mogomek -- King of Kings," bedecked in his semi-official uniform of medals and gold tasseled epaulettes, squeezed in among the bemused press. Botswanan journalist Enole Ditsheko explained that the king, who wore the traditional chiefly leopard skin and was allowed into the VIP area, was a fixture who was tolerated by all the paramount chiefs of the nation as well as President Mogae.

As Bush stepped off his aircraft onto the ceremonial red carpet, he was met by a group of Herero women who wore the strange European-style hooped skirts and top hats that their ancestors had patterned after the German missionaries who had settled among them.

When President Bush stopped to admire the dancing of the Ditholwana troupe, which was accompanied by music from the marimba, a wooden xylophone-type instrument, he appeared for a second to be swayed by the music as had President Mogae, but then he continued on to the end of the carpet. As he approached a waiting limousine, however, Bush suddenly swerved toward the crowds standing at the edge of the tarmac.

As the secret service detail tried to keep the security cordon around him intact, the president and his wife walked along the crowd's edge, shaking hands and being touched by people who were surprised and delighted by this spontaneous gesture. The presidential party then was whisked away to the Gaborone International Conference Center (GICC) for bilateral discussions with President Mogae.

[Botswana has been a prosperous nation by African standards because of its diamond wealth, but its small population has not been spared the curse of HIV/AIDS, which the U.N. estimates infects 39% of the people aged 15-49. Prevention and treatment of the disease plays a central role in U.S. assistance to Botswana.]

President Bush met with journalists after the meeting and told them, "We had a wide-ranging discussion" that covered the AIDS crisis and food shortages in Africa.

Bush said the message he had for Africans is that U.S. aid, such as his $15,000 million AIDS foreign assistance program, is "an expression of the great, good heart of the American people.

"It doesn't matter what political party or what the ideology of the American citizen, the average citizen cares deeply about the fact that people are dying in numbers because of HIV/AIDS. We cry for the orphan. We care for the mom who is alone. We are concerned about their plight and, therefore, will respond as generously as we can."

After the discussions, Bush joined Mogae at lunch, where the Botswanan president declared "the assistance and cooperation we have received clearly demonstrates that in the United States, Botswana has a true and dependable partner. Mr. President, we also welcome your administration's encouragement of and collaboration with your country's private sector in the fight against the HIV/AIDS pandemic in sub-Saharan Africa as a whole and in Botswana in particular."

On the economic level, Mogae thanked Bush for including Botswana in the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which extends duty- and quota-free entry of African exports, including textiles, into the U.S. market. "I am happy to say that, as in many other African countries, many jobs have been created for Botswana. We deeply appreciate your decision and are determined to maximize the benefits under this dispensation."

Bush responded saying, "Your trade policies, Mr. President, are also ensuring strong commerce between Botswana and the United States, which will only grow in years ahead." He added, "We're delighted to make our first visit to Botswana and to see the vast and rich beauty of your country."

Before returning to Pretoria, Bush toured the Southern Africa Global Competitiveness Hub, a U.S. Government-funded one-stop shopping information center for investors seeking to take advantage of AGOA and make contacts with U.S. businesses.

The Bushes concluded their visit to Botswana with a tour of the Mokolodi Nature Reserve. The non-profit foundation that supports the Park provides environmental education to Botswana's school children. The game park is renowned for its population of elephant orphans and endangered rhinos, as well as zebra, giraffes, ostrich, hippos and steenbok antelopes.

(The Washington File is a product of the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

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