PRESENTATION OF CREDENTIALS TO HIS EXCELLENCY, PRESIDENT BINGU WA MUTHARIKA
OF THE REPUBLIC OF MALAWI BY MR. ALAN W. EASTHAM JR.

I have the great honor and privilege to present to you the Letters of Credence by which the President of the United States, His Excellency Mr. George W. Bush, accredits me to Your Excellency as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary.  Permit me also to hand to you the Letters of Recall of my predecessor, Ambassador Stephen A. Browning.
 
Our two countries have enjoyed many years of cordial, productive, and friendly relations.  It is my hope, goal, and expectation that we shall continue to do so, even as we confront new challenges and take advantage of new opportunities to strengthen the strong ties between the United States and the Republic of Malawi.  On behalf of President Bush, let me convey to you his best wishes for the continuation of our strong ties as well as the continued health and prosperity of the Republic of Malawi and its people.
 
As I testified before the Senate earlier this year, the bilateral agenda between the United States and Malawi mirrors the urgent questions which are at the forefront of the United States policy toward the countries of the continent of Africa and, indeed, the agenda of the Group of Eight as discussed and refined in Gleneagles a few weeks ago.   In that spirit, the U.S. team in Lilongwe will pay close attention to a very full program of activities, including food security; combating the scourge of diseases such as malaria and HIV/AIDS; improving the economic well-being of Malawi’s population; confronting the challenge of international terrorism; and cooperating closely to deal with the political and military challenges that face other countries in the region.
 
Mr. President, since my predecessor presented his credentials to your predecessor two years ago, Malawi has conducted a peaceful, constitutional election, which is further evidence of Malawi’s strong commitment to democratic process and peaceful political change.  The United States salutes the people of Malawi for this achievement and pledges to continue to support this very welcome development.  We also have, in the past two years, developed new mechanisms for cooperation on HIV/AIDS, and will shortly, I believe, move to a new phase in our relations with the approval of the Millennium Challenge Account Threshold Program, which will support the broad process of reform and transformation in Malawi, and particularly your government’s laudable efforts to support fiscal discipline and to fight corruption. We are not standing still, and I pledge to you that during my tenure in the Republic of Malawi, we shall move forward in strengthening our partnership if it is within my power to do so.
 
It is truly a privilege to join you and your countrymen in the warm heart of Africa.  I look forward to a close, productive partnership with you, your government, and the people of Malawi. 
 
Thank you, Your Excellency, for your kind attention.