Transcript: President Looking Forward to Trip to Africa

Spokesman says focus will be on HIV/AIDS, democracy and trade

Washington -- White House Spokesman Ari Fleischer discussed President Bush's July 7-12 trip to Africa during the White House noon briefing June 25.

The President, he said, was really looking forward to the trip that had originally been scheduled for January but had to be postponed.

The President will be highlighting the efforts being made to expand democracy and trade and manage the HIV/AIDS epidemic, he said.

Following is an excerpt from the briefing touching on Africa:

(begin transcript)

Q: And another question on his upcoming Africa trip. Many critics, once again, are saying that it's just patronizing to go to Africa, especially when you have a President who is so against affirmative action, and he's going to go to a place like Senegal which is known for slave-trading there, and not apologize for slavery. You've made it clear that you will not even deal with that issue. Talk about that. MR. FLEISCHER: Well, the President is very much looking forward to this trip to Africa. This was a trip that was originally scheduled in January; the President had to postpone it. And he said he would carry out the trip later this year, and he, indeed, is. And the trip will be from July 7th to the 12th. And the focus of the trip is going to be on trade. It's going to be on promoting democracy. Indeed, there are several success stories in Africa that the President is going to put on the world's map for all the world to see, that, indeed, democracy can be a part of the African story. The President is going to talk about his initiative to help fight AIDS in Africa. And the President will also be visiting Goree Island. And so I think you're going to hear from the President on the topic of slavery and about democracy and about how to help people forward in life and how people progress, thanks to democracy and freedom.

Q: But if he goes there, why not an apology? MR. FLEISCHER: Well, I think you'll hear the President's remarks in their full context when you hear them. And the President is looking forward to the trip and reflecting about history and about the future.

(end transcript)