WASHINGTON, Nov. 11 (UPI) -- President George W. Bush on Sunday met with leaders from Africa and South America in an effort to strengthen economic ties with the United States and promote regional stability on their continents.
In his second round of bilateral talks in two days, Bush met with South African President Thabo Mbeki, Colombian President Andres Pastrana and Argentine President Fernando De La Rua. The leaders were in New York for the 56th session of the United Nations General Assembly. Bush delivered his first speech to the group on Saturday.
Senior administration officials said Bush's meeting with Mbeki began with praise for the South African president's leadership in trying to bring peace to the embattled Great Lakes region, where civil unrest between the Congo and Rwanda has been ongoing.
Officials said Mbeki told Bush that he had sent an important message to African leaders by sending a high-level delegation to the African Growth and Opportunity Act forum in Washington. President Bush and Secretary of State Colin Powell addressed the first-ever AGOA Forum at the State Department on Oct. 29. Mbeki also praised the New Africa trade initiative, telling Bush that the mood on the continent was "good."
Bush and Mbeki last met in Washington, where the two leaders discussed the Millennium Africa Recovery Project, a coalition of African leaders seeking to address conflict resolution, foreign investment and bridging the digital divide on the continent.
Mbeki has advocated the Millennium Africa Recovery Project as a way for the African leadership to help the continent break out of conditions of poverty and under development.
In a second meeting, Bush held talks with Colombian President Andres Pastrana. Senior administration officials said Pastrana pointed out to Bush that 20 Colombian nationals had died in the World Trade Center attacks. He told Bush that the U.S. has "moral authority" in fighting terrorism, money laundering and narcotics trafficking, all problems that have plagued Columbia.
At the same time, Pastrana told Bush that the United States had to do a better job in lowering the American demand for narcotics. Bush responded by telling Pastrana that the U.S. Senate had approved his choice for the nation's drug czar, John Walters.
In his final meeting, Bush met with Argentine President Fernando De La Rua, who expressed his condolences over the Sept. 11 attacks. Officials described their meeting as "open and cordial," with De La Rua describing for Bush his government's zero-budget austerity plan and stressing the importance of free trade.
The two leaders agreed to form a bilateral "consultative mechanism" similar to what the U.S. has with Brazil. It would examine barriers to trade between the U.S. and Argentina. Official said particular trade problems exist with steel and citrus exports and tariffs.
The day began with President Bush praising the nation's war veterans for their sacrifices while protecting the country. During an early-morning prayer breakfast, he reminded the American public that the U.S. military was always prepared to defend freedom.
On Saturday, Bush held brief talks with Madagascar President Didier Ratsiraka, Croatian President Stjepan Mesic, Ugandan President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and Kenyan President Daniel arap Moi. The leaders expressed their support fore the U.S.-led campaign against terrorism, senior Bush administration officials said, as they pursued talks on issues of trade and regional stability.
Bush left New York's Waldorf-Astoria Hotel mid-afternoon for the site of the World Trade Center ruins where he was to participate in a memorial service honoring the victims of the Sept. 11 attacks who came from more than 80 nations, then tour the rubble with U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan.
