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Bush Meets Three African Leaders to Discuss African Development VOA News 26 Feb 2002 23:56 UTC 
President Bush has met at the White House with three African leaders with their talks focused on African economic development and trade relations between the United States and Africa.
President Bush met Tuesday with Presidents Joaquim Chissano of Mozambique, Festus Mogae of Botswana, and Jose Eduardo dos Santos of Angola. Following the meeting, President Chissano told reporters that the African leaders talked about the need to strengthen trade between Africa and the United States. He urged the U.S. private sector to invest in Africa. Mr. Chissano also said he and the other leaders expressed their sympathies for the people of the United States after the September 11 terrorist attacks.
President Chissano said African countries are ready to cooperate with the United States to prevent the escalation of terrorism and to bring it to an end. Mr. Chissano said the root of terrorism is poverty and it is important to recognize the problem and to try to eradicate it.
He said that he and his fellow African leaders promised President Bush that they would develop democracy and good governance in their countries. Botswanan President Festus Mogae said the group asked Mr. Bush to press congress to pass another Africa trade bill that would open more opportunities for sub-Sahara Africa.
Angolan President Jose Eduardo dos Santos said the situation in his country is favorable now for a ceasefire and political normalization following the killing, last week, of UNITA rebel leader Jonas Savimbi. Mr. dos Santos said his government is ready to hold talks with the rebels. On Monday, the United States urged both the Angolan government and the rebels to put down their arms and reach a peace agreement.
UNITA has been waging war, on and off, against the government since 1975. The conflict has devastated oil and mineral rich Angola, displaced millions of people and claimed hundreds of thousands of lives.
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