 It's a pleasure to welcome you here this evening by your visit to the United States, both as the President of Mali, and as the Chairman of the Organization of African Unity. During your visit, we've been discussing issues of concern to Mali. The Organization of African Unity in the United States. And I'm gratified that you share our concerns about regional stability and economic development in Africa. And we've appreciated your efforts to promote peace and development. I want you to know that we'll continue to work with you and be as supportive as possible in addressing these areas. I'm happy and satisfied to see that you share our concerns about regional stability and economic development in Africa. We appreciate your efforts to ensure peace and development. Know that we'll continue to work with you and be as supportive as possible in addressing these issues with you. But Africans and Americans do not just share a concern for various international problems. We share a rich cultural heritage as well. Some one out of six Americans, Mr. President, trace their ancestry to Africa. They and indeed all of us are very proud of that African heritage and are eager to learn more about the African cultures from which they came. I think this points to another common cultural thread between Malia and the United States. Malia has a proud and ancient history. It had three empires before Europeans came from the United States. At the mileage of multiple states, it's now been thought that people would prefer in the space of this labor camp. So I think this went back to the ancient culture, the culture of the first Europeans first settled in what is now the United States. Malian explorers sailed the high seas and may even have visited America. All Americans, even if they know little else about Africa, have heard of the great and historical city of Timbuktu. It once meant to us a distant place. Your visit has brought both our nations closer. I think this brings us to another common cultural point between Malia and the United States. Because Malia has an ancient history and a history that is proud of having had three empires before Europeans came for the first time to settle in what is now the United States. Malian explorers sailed the high seas and may even have visited America. All Americans, even if they know little about Africa, have heard of the great historical city of Timbuktu. We thought of Timbuktu as a very distant place, but your visit has brought both our nations closer. Malia, like the United States, is a country made up of people from different ethnic and religious groups. We admire Malia's respect for diversity, that is both in your constitution and in practice. I know you're all amazed at my ability at French. Americans believe that the ethnic diversity of the United States is one of our country's greatest strengths. And I think this is best summed up in one of your recommendations. And I think this is the best way to help the United States grow. And I think this is the best way to help the United States grow. And I think this is the best way to help the United States grow. And I think this is best summed up in one of your proverbs. One person, one thought, two persons, two thoughts. From the ideas of many different people and the freedom to express those ideas comes the strength of a nation. Mr. President, I look forward to continuing to share ideas with you by exchanging ideas and working Working together with the leaders of a great and ancient continent, I believe we can find solutions with a human face to the problems confronting the world. I salute you as a good friend, a great leader of your people, and as the chairman of the Organization of African Unity. Mr. President, I would like to enjoy the perspective of continuing to exchange ideas with you, this exchange of ideas, and this collaboration with the leaders of a continent that is vast and ancient will help us, I believe, to find solutions with a human face to the problems confronting the world. I salute you as a good friend, a great leader of your people, and as the chairman of the Organization of African Unity. And so, can we raise our glasses to President Traore and Madam Traore? Mr. President, Mr. members of Congress, Mr. members of Senate, Mr. members of government, excellence, Mr. ambassadors, Madam Monsieur, I would like, in this circumstance, to renew my sincere thanks as well as those of my delegation for the warm welcome and the cordial hospitality that we have had since our arrival in the United States of America, this great and beautiful country of freedom. Mr. President, members of the Congress and members of the Senate, members of the Administration, your Excellencies, ambassadors, ladies and gentlemen, may I, on this occasion, renew my sincere thanks to you as well as the thanks of my delegation for the warm welcome and the cordial hospitality that we have been enjoying ever since we arrived in the United States, this great and beautiful land of freedom. Mr. President, Malia and the United States of America hold excellent relations in the political, economic, and socio-cultural aspects. Mr. President, Malia and the United States have excellent relations in the areas of political, economic, social, and cultural relations. The numerous cooperation agreements between our two countries that cover all the areas of activity are perfectly sincere in our development strategy, a strategy aimed at priority in food supply, the water management, the interior and exterior disclosure, and human resources training. The many agreements for cooperation between our two countries cover all fields of activity, and they fall very clearly within our strategy for development. We seek, first of all, self-sufficiency in food production, control of our water resources, breaking away from the landlocked situation of our country, both domestic and foreign, and training our human resources. I am happy to salute here the very valuable assistance that your government has been extending to us in securing these objectives. In order to have a better performance for our economy, we have undertaken, together with international financial institutions and friendly nations, a very profound and exhaustive reform which touches upon all sectors of the world, including the economic, social, and economic sector. This reform touches upon all sectors of development, public finances, state-owned enterprises, development of the rural area, and private sector. The essential goal is the liberation of all energies and of all creative initiatives of the Malian people who are, as an image of the American people, a very entrepreneurial people. Basically, we are seeking to mobilize all energies and all the creative potential of the people of Mali. The people of Mali, just like the people of the United States, has a very highly developed sense of enterprise. Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen, concerning Africa, our principal concerns remain the total liberation of the continent and the social and economic development. Recent trends in Southern Africa allow us to think that it may soon become a reality that Resolution 435 may soon become implemented, helping Namibia exceed to independence. The international community must pay no effort and gather all its strength in order to force the governments of South Africa to comply with the requirements of the implementation of this pertinent resolution. Side by side with the fighters of South Africa, the Organization of African Unity will continue to struggle for the taking down of the intolerable system of apartheid. We seek to establish in South Africa a more human, more just society which has been rid of all forms of segregation. In this connection, Africa enjoys very much the ever-growing support of the great American people. Your constitution, your democratic traditions have inspired many people throughout the world. In the economic area, Mr. President, it is urgent to find a just and lasting solution to the problem of the African debt. Thus, the Organization of African Unity has been calling for the convening of an international conference on that issue. In solving the problem of the African debt, we will have to factor in the issue of raw material and commodity prices as Africa is a producer because it is only through a just remuneration of their production that the African nations will secure the steady resources necessary for the development of the African debt. We seek to share it to their development and to payment of the debt. May I, in closing ladies and gentlemen, ask you to raise your glass with me to the health of President Ronald Reagan, to the health of Mrs. Reagan, the strengthening of the friendship between our two nations and closer bonds of cooperation and solidarity among all people of the world. I thank you. Again, when your father taught you to play your first note, the world of music has never been the same. Over your career, you've recorded over 80 albums, three of them gold, not to mention your hit single, Just a Closer Walk with Thee. Pete, you've performed your magic to audiences around the globe, and yet you always return home to that great American city, New Orleans. As you know, Nancy and I were in your fabulous city at the Republican National Convention, and I think we're beginning to learn what every New Orleans has come to accept as a fact of life. You can leave New Orleans, but it never leaves you. Pete, Nancy and I thank you for reminding us of that tonight. And I just said to your wonderful team there also that our kids don't know what they've missed. God bless you and thank you again. Thank you for bringing us back. Thank you so much.