Transcript: Joint Press Conference with President Bush and Prime Minister Blair

The United States has a wide-ranging and active agenda with Europe, and we're determined to work together to meet the global challenges common to us all. The prime minister and I believe a strong Europe that acts in partnership with the United States is important for world peace. I appreciate your leadership, Tony Blair, I appreciate your friendship, I appreciate your courage, and I appreciate your vision. Welcome back to America.

BLAIR: Thank you very much indeed, Mr. President. And say how delighted we are to be back here in the White House and to say thank you for your warm welcome. And we've, obviously, got a busy agenda ahead of us in the international community over the coming months.

We've, obviously, discussed, as the president has just indicated, the issues to do with the G-8 summit. And on Africa, I think there is a real and common desire to help that troubled continent come out of the poverty and deprivation that so many millions of its people suffer.

In a situation where literally thousands of children die from preventable diseases every day, it's our duty to act and we will. But we know that there are two things very clear about Africa today. The first is that, though it is important that we commit the resources to Africa that are necessary, it's not just about resources. It's also about debt, it's about trade, it's about making sure that we deal with these diseases, HIV/AIDS, malaria, TB, polio that are killing so many people. It's about conflict resolution and having the proper peacekeeping and peace enforcement mechanisms.

And it's about making sure that in doing this that it's not a something-for-nothing deal. We also need to make sure that there is a commitment on the part of the African leadership to proper governance, to action against corruption, to making sure that the aid and the resources that we are prepared to commit actually go to the people that need it and do the job that it's supposed to do.

So we're trying to create a framework in which we deal not just with one of the issues to do with Africa, but all of them together; and deal with them on the basis of a partnership with the African leadership that's prepared to embrace the same values of democracy and freedom that we embrace.

In respect of debt and debt cancellation, I'm pleased with the progress that we're making. And I think we are well on the way. I hope we're able to conclude a deal at the finance ministers' meeting this weekend, but one that will involve 100 percent debt cancellation and also the commitment of the additional funding necessary to make sure that the institutions aren't penalized as a result of that. And if that substantial funding is added also to the debt cancellation, I think it will make a real difference to those African countries.

But we know there's a lot more to do. And over the coming weeks, in the run-up to the summit that will take place in Scotland, we want to carry on working on the specific programs in relation to things like education and infrastructure and dealing with the killer diseases that allow us to make the commitment that we need.

On climate change, I think everyone knows there are different perspectives on this issue. But I also think that it's increasingly obvious whatever perspective people have and from whatever angle they come at this issue, there is a common commitment and desire to tackle the challenges of climate change, of energy security and energy supply.

And we need to make sure that we do that. And again, I hope over the coming weeks we will work closely on this. On the Middle East and the Middle East peace process, of course we had a discussion about this. I would just like to emphasize again the vital necessity of making sure that democracy succeeds in Iraq.

Our troops work together very, very closely there. And I would like to pay tribute not just to the bravery of the British troops that work there and other coalition troops, but to the United States forces that do such a magnificent job there and often in very, very difficult circumstances. And yet it is absolutely vital for the security not just of that country and of that region, but of the world, that we succeed in Iraq. And the reason it's tough is because people know what's at stake. And what's at stake is the ability of Iraq, finally, to function properly as a democracy run for the good of its people. And our help in ensuring that Iraq can attain that goal is of vital importance, not just to our countries, but to the future of the world.

In addition, of course, the progress that's being made in respect to the Middle East peace process is very welcome. Mr. President, I'd like to thank you for your leadership on that issue, which has been extremely important. We also had an opportunity to discuss issues to do with Iran and Libya and Afghanistan, and a range of different matters. But once again, let me thank you very much for inviting me here to come back after my reelection.