 George was given a tour of the Rosamount. The press has gone on. Well, hello there. It's been a long time since 1981, when you were here before. It's been a very long time since you were here. Well, I said, you were here. Yes, we met right here. Good to see you. Good to see you, too. How was it, we, the mastermind? I'm going to shake the staff and the press. I'll see you in addition to our own people here. We'll have about three waves at the top of this. We have our own collaborators here. We have three waves of photographs that will succeed. Thank you very much. We are looking for the opportunity to exchange ideas during this period of time. Say thank you for your precious hospitality. But I would like to thank you for your very kind hospitality towards my daughter. I would like to share the same message. I haven't even seen her since I got to Washington. You will watch. You will have the Thursday. You will have the questions. They always do. They are not supposed to ask questions. They are supposed to film. But they are trying to replace them. Mr. President, the hearings are about over on Capitol Hill. Have you heard any evidence that any laws were violated in the grand contra up there? You know, I don't take questions of these photo opportunities, but I ask a question like that. I haven't heard a single word indicated in any of the testimony that laws were made. In that case, do you think that Colonel North, the Admiral Poindexter, rather, deserved pardons at this point just to prevent any kind of prosecution? I am going to speak out on that whole subject and the subject of this whole affair when the hearings are over. Are you at all worried about the surgery that's going to happen? Are you at all worried about the surgery that's happening? No, it seems a little over dignified to call what it's going to happen. Surgery is scraping the patch on my nose. Thank you. Thank you. That's why you do this. Thank you. And this is just where they took a look at how this happened. So you won't stay there for long? Oh no. The press is provided. I think the African, their best behavior because they're right here. Thank you. You're welcome. You're welcome. Thank you. You're welcome. We're behind schedule this evening. That brings Yolkson right over there by that. In the other room I was thanking the president for being so very kind to my daughter on her visit to your country. She has come back very enthused about all that she saw there. Symbolizes our strong friendship and esteem of which we owe you. In the years you have nurtured political stability and economic prosperity in your country, and you've also been forced for peace in the region. The OAU and the UN and elsewhere. Incidentally, I know that I'm going to ask you if you have an agenda or something. You'd like to start a discussion, but first of all I have to confess a little curiosity as to the reason OAU is summit. Would you like to say something about that? If you do, I'll tell you, but I'll say it once and then. We have admired the way the policy that you have pursued in regard to the economy. We know that the oil price situation has caused you great problems. We will do all we can to promote for the private best in your country, but you have almost performed a miracle in that regard. And it is definitely the path to follow. This has been a long-awaited visit that has given us a chance to return the generous hospitality President Bongo personally accorded to so many representatives of this and earlier administrations. For 20 years, President Bongo has led his country in an era of stability and progress. Under his leadership, Gabon has consistently encouraged the peaceful settlement of regional disputes siding with reason, dialogue and moderation over bloodshed war and terror. Recognizing this, the Organization of African Unity asked President Bongo to help find a solution to the conflict in Chad. President Bongo has been a champion of African development and has worked tirelessly for the welfare of his people and all Africans. The United States and Gabon have cooperated closely in the effort to achieve these noble goals. We have enjoyed a positive and friendly relationship for the past two decades, a relationship that has served both our countries well. I have greatly valued President Bongo's advice and counsel concerning America's role in Africa's political and economic development. Today, President Bongo and I found ourselves in harmony about many of the key issues that confront Africa. We agreed that economic reform, which is the best hope for growth, self-sufficiency and full economic sovereignty, must proceed. The United States has encouraged reform through special aid funds and increased contributions to international financial institutions. Gabon is contributing as well by setting an example, taking positive steps toward reform on its own and in cooperation with the IMF. We admire this commitment and wish President Bongo great success. For our own part, we will soon be signing a bilateral debt rescheduling agreement with Gabon. U.S. investors have had a favorable experience in Gabon. President Bongo is working to make the investment climate even more attractive, and we are working with him to promote increased U.S. investment there. President Bongo and I also reviewed the situation in Southern Africa. We share the conviction that negotiated peaceful solutions to the disputes that afflict that region are urgently and clearly impossible. The evil of apartheid is no exception. President Bongo and I are committed to working together, along with other African leaders of goodwill, to set the region on a peaceful course. The United States will continue to stand unequivocally by the side of Africa with our counsel, our friendship and our assistance. Constructive meetings, like the one I held today with President Bongo, bolster that commitment. I was very much heartened by our discussions and pleased to have President Bongo as our guest. I am very touched by the kind words you have just said in my place, as well as by the confidence you put in my country. I would like to thank you, Mr. President, and I would like to express my condolences to the people of Gabon and to my personal name, the feelings of friendship that we show in the face of your excellence and of the American people. During this official visit, which is now beginning, which is my privilege to carry out throughout your great and beautiful country, I am also touched by your kind words towards me and touched also by the confidence you displayed toward my country. May I thank you for this, Mr. President, and tell you, in turn, on behalf of the people of Gabon and in my own name, how much esteem and friendship we feel towards you personally and towards the American people. In this world of politics, the United States has built on their nation, on the diversity of the origins of its inhabitants. They have become an example for all the countries and the price of peace, of freedom and of solidarity. That is why, as the head of the African State, I can assure you that we are very attentive to all the efforts undertaken by your country to end, not only at the part-time and regional conflicts, but also at the constant degradation of the country. For our part, we have set foot in collaboration with the International Monetary Fund and a program of austerity that imposes on us the constraints of the future to preserve the future. I am very grateful to all of you, Mr. President. The International Monetary Fund and a program of austerity that imposes on us the constraints of the future to preserve the future. The International Monetary Fund and the Paris Club and London have taken action of our determination and our will to honor our children. In you, the American people finds its perfect embodiment because beyond your great statements like qualities, it has found the leader which has given back confidence and greatness and dignity back to the American nation. No country can stand idly by and watch what is going on in the United States. And Gabon watches with keen interest the deep and rapid shifts taking place under your leadership within American society. In this political world in which we live, the United States built its own nation predicated upon the diversity of origins of your people. Thus, you have become an example for all countries which love liberty, solidarity, and peace. Therefore, speaking as the leader of an African nation, may I say that we follow very carefully all your efforts to put an end not only to apartheid and regional conflicts, but also to put an end to the steady deterioration of the economic situation of the African continent. For our part, Mr. President, we have set up with the IMF an austerity program which imposes drastic constraints upon us if we want to preserve the future. The IMF and the Paris and London clubs have been made aware of our determination and of our will to honour our commitments. By the importance that our export products and access to the global market have increased. The solidarity must indeed become the reality in the measure of our relations between states. In this spirit, the distance between our two countries, the difference between the level of development and the economic situation, must not constitute obstacles to a multiform cooperation. Gabon is a peaceful country, stable and welcoming, where security reigns. He is the guardian of people. He seeks to diversify his partners in and in these contexts. We know that there is room for your country. The United States can indeed bring us their knowledge, their technology, their knowledge and their capital in order to contribute to our development. Mr. President, the United States and Gabon have been maintaining harmonious relations for several years. Some American companies have already established Gabon. But I wish for the future that our relations benefit from a new impulsion, especially after the signing of the bilateral agreement on the encouragement and protection of the investments we have been negotiating. In this connection, may I tell you how much I appreciate to the full extent of their impact, the rescheduling measures taken vis-à-vis our debt that you were kind enough to undertake. In this very difficult situation, we wish, Mr. President, for the spirit of solidarity to prevail in the end and for our export commodities to gain access to world markets at their remunerative level. Solidarity indeed must become the reality in relationships among states. In this connection, distance between our two countries, the difference in our levels of development and in our respective economic impact, must not be an obstacle to a cooperation in many areas. Gabon is a peaceful and peace-loving country, stable and a welcoming country, and there is security in Gabon. Gabon is the special preserve of no one. Gabon seeks to diversify its partners and in this connection, we know that there is a place for your country. The United States indeed can bring us their know-how, their technology and their capitals in order to contribute to our development. Mr. President, the United States and Gabon have for some years now enjoyed harmonious relationships. We have a few American companies in Gabon already. What I wish for in the future is to see our relations enjoy a new impetus, particularly after we signed the bilateral agreement on treaty protection and investments. In short, Mr. President, I must make a decision to make a cooperation between our two countries.