For Immediate Release
September 20, 2004

Global Message

From President Bush's Radio Address, 9/18/04

This week, President Bush will speak to the United Nations General Assembly about the great possibilities of our time -- improving health, expanding prosperity, and extending freedom in our world.

America is determined to spread hope, economic progress, and freedom as the alternatives to hatreds, resentments, and terrorist violence.

America and many nations are taking a bold stand in the fight against HIV/AIDS. President Bush's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief will provide an unprecedented $15 billion over five years to support the fight against the AIDS pandemic throughout the world.

America and many nations are determined to turn the tide against global poverty. It is now our policy to increase foreign aid to those governments that are serious about fighting corruption, and improving education, health care, and economic opportunity for their people.

The health and well-being of developing nations depends on the defeat of hunger and illiteracy. The United States has launched an Initiative to End Hunger in Africa by teaching farmers modern techniques and by providing drought-resistant crops. Through our Africa Education Initiative, we are training teachers, distributing textbooks, and encouraging higher school enrollment.

American and many nations are building a better world by standing with the liberated peoples of Iraq and Afghanistan as they move toward democracy. More than 10 million Afghan citizens have registered to vote in next month's election. Iraq is approaching free elections in January. Terrorists are trying to stop the progress of both those countries, but the world can be certain: America and our allies will keep our commitments to the Afghan and Iraqi people.