 Ladies and gentlemen, the President of the United States, and Mrs. Reagan. Ladies and gentlemen, the national anthems of the Republic of Ivory Coast and the United States of America. Privileged to welcome to Washington today one of the world's senior statesmen, a man of outstanding stature and the father of his country, His Excellency President Felix Ufwet Bonye of Ivory Coast. And the African continent and throughout the world, he is known as a spokesman for reason and open communication as the means for resolving conflict and ensuring a better world. We share with President Ufwet this belief in dialogue. I look forward to our discussion today and in many days to come on the vital issues which face the African continent and the world. Ivory Coast itself is an outstanding example of the progress and prosperity that can be achieved in an atmosphere of peace, security, and individual liberty. The President has often emphasized these as the fundamental ingredients of economic well-being and advancement. And we share his conviction that only in conditions of peace and liberty can a nation achieve lasting economic and social progress. It's a particular pleasure for me to welcome today the leader of a nation which has so warmly and graciously welcomed so many of our own representatives. Mr. President, I have received enthusiastic reports about Ivory Coast and its economic vitality and vast potential from Secretary Baldrige and Block, several senators, Assistant Secretary of State Crocker, and others. And all of them were struck by the advances your country has made, advances reflecting your commitment to a free economy which encourages producers through a philosophy of hard work and self-help. There is a saying in Ivory Coast. If your stomach is empty, ask your hands why. Well, you and your countrymen have worked hard. And in doing so, you've improved your lives and gained the respect of the world. The remarkable progress of your country's agricultural endeavors is a tribute to your enlightened leadership. By making it possible for your farmers to get a fair return for their work and by recognizing the importance of this sector of your economy, you spared the people the deprivation that has befallen many others. Ivory Coast has built one of the richest economies in Africa by understanding that before wealth can be divided, it must be created. Ivorians can be proud of their solid record of economic improvement since independence. At the same time, your income distribution is among the fairest on the continent. I'm pleased that the American private sector has been able to play a role in realizing what you refer to as Ivorian well-being. As we welcome you once again to our country, we note that many changes have occurred since your last visit to the White House in 1973. Nations around the globe, including the Ivory Coast in the United States, are struggling to overcome a period of severe economic problems and uncertainty. But together, we can face the future with confidence. Our two peoples share a desire for liberty and progress that can and will triumph over adversity. So today, let us renew our pledge to each other that as we walk the road to the future, we, the people of the United States and Ivory Coast, will do so as friends. Mr. President, welcome to the White House. We have the privilege of welcoming to Washington today a leader among the states of the world, a man of the greatest reputation and the worst founder of his country, His Excellency, the President of the Ivory Coast, Felix Fuetwani. On the African continent and in the entire world, he has been able to be the parable of reason and open communication, as constituting the best means to resolve conflicts and to ensure a better world. We share this attachment to dialogue with Mr. Fuetwani. I will rejoice at the perspective of our present and future on the great problems that the African continent and the world face. The Ivory Coast is a striking example of the progress of prosperity that can manifest itself in a climate of peace, of security and individual freedom. Mr. Fuetwani has often put an accent on these same elements as the fundamental components of economic well-being and progress. We believe, like him, that it is thanks to a climate of peace and freedom that a nation can achieve a sustainable economic and social progress. It is for me a special pleasure to welcome today the leader of a country that has received so warmly and lovingly so many of our representatives. Mr. President, I have received enthusiastic reports on the Ivory Coast, its economic vitality and its vast potentials, Secretary of State Baldrige and Block, several senators, Secretary of State Crocker and other personalities. They have all been struck by the evidence found in your country, a faithful reflection of your attachment to a free economy that encourages producers by a working philosophy of acidity and personal effort. The Ivory Coast claims that if you have nothing in your stomach, why do you ask for your hands? You and your compatriots have worked a lot, thanks to which you have improved your well-being and have deserved the respect of the whole world. The remarkable progress of your agriculture makes an honor to your leadership, allowing your farmers to receive a fair reward for their labor and by recognizing the importance of this sector of your economy, you have inspired your people the deprivation that many others suffer. You have also said, build one of the richest economies in Africa, because you have understood that before you can share a wealth, you still have to create it. The Ivory Coast can be proud of their solid economic progress since independence, which in addition, your distribution of revenues is one of the most equitable in the continent. I am happy that the American private sector has been able to participate in the creation of what you call the Ivory Coast. By wishing you a welcome once again to the United States, we notice that many changes have been made since your last visit to the White House in 1973. Many nations, including the Ivory Coast and the United States, are fighting to overcome a period of serious uncertainty and economic problems. But together, we can face the future with confidence. Our people have a common desire for freedom and progress, which will have reasons for all adversities. Thus, let us renew our commitment today so that in our future progress, we, the peoples of the United States and the Ivory Coast, will continue to be friends. Mr. President, be welcome to the White House. Mr. President, it is with great pleasure that I find your beautiful country where every message has been an opportunity to discover admiration and strengthen my trust in the future. Your delicate words of welcome add to this pleasure, because they show the amicable interest that you bring to my country and the solidarity and the ties that are ties between the United States and the Ivory Coast for more than 20 years. By addressing your invitation, which has greatly honored me, you have well wanted to tell me the price that you have attached to the personal contact between the head of state. This point of view is completely mine, and I am glad to be able to speak to your company about the problems that concern us and which I cannot imagine to resolve without the effective and powerful action of the United States of America. That is to say, the interest that I bring to your opinion in the different fields where the future of human adventure is played. Mr. President, I thank you at all times for giving me again the opportunity to greet in your person the American people and tell them all the admiration and friendship of the Ivory people as he has attached to the eternal value of peace and justice. Long live the United States of America, long live our friendship. Mr. President, it is with great pleasure that I return to your magnificent country where each of my stays has been a source of discovery and admiration and has strengthened my confidence in the future. Your thoughtful words of welcome add to my pleasure because they are evidence of your friendly interest in my country and of the strength of the ties that have developed between the United States and Ivory Coast over more than 20 years. In extending to me your invitation, which honored me greatly, you are kind enough to tell me how much you value personal contacts between heads of state. I share your view entirely and look forward to being able to discuss with you the problems that concern me and which I cannot conceive of being resolved without effective and forceful steps by the United States of America. That is why I am so keenly interested in hearing your views in regard to the various areas where the fate of humankind is being played out. Mr. President, I thank you most warmly for having afforded me the opportunity once again to greet the American people through you and to express to them the great admiration and friendship of the people of Ivory Coast who share their commitment to the timeless values of peace and justice. Long live the United States of America. Long live our friendship.