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CNN Live Today

President Bush Announces New Terms for Foreign Aid

Aired March 22, 2002 - 14:01   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: President Bush is in Mexico now, part of a trip to Latin America. Today, during a U.N. summit in Monterey, he laid down rather tough terms for giving aid to poor countries. That's where we pick up things with Kelly Wallace, traveling with the president, live now in Monterey. Kelly, good afternoon again.

KELLY WALLACE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good, afternoon, again, Bill.

Tough terms definitely, also a somewhat controversial proposal. So President Bush really laying it out here at this conference in Mexico. The president saying that he wants to make any extra U.S. assistance tie that to countries -- only countries that enact political, social and economic reforms, the president saying pouring money into countries -- basically what he called "a failed status quo" isn't working, so he called for a new approach.

The president making that case to some 50 heads of state gathered at this conference. The president also saying that he would be increasing U.S. assistance by 50 percent, from 10 billion a year up to $15 billion a year by 2006. The president also, though, doing something else. In his remarks, making the case that the war on terror is definitely linked to the battle against poverty.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We will challenge the poverty, and hopelessness, and lack of education, and failed governments that too often allow conditions that terrorists can cease and try to turn to their advantage. Our new approach for development places responsibility on developing nations and on all nations.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WALLACE: And other leaders really echoing the president's comments. French President Jacques Chirac saying what is being done against the terrorists should be done against poverty. Other countries saying it's more important than ever, especially after September 11, for the developed nations to pitch in and help countries in need.

Bill, though, as we've been reporting throughout the day, still some criticism, though. Many country believing the world's richest nations, including the United States, could be doing a little bit more. Bill, back to you.

HEMMER: Kelly, tomorrow the focus is going to shift away from aid to poor and developing countries to, frankly, security for the president traveling to Lima, Peru. What's being said right now within the press corps there traveling with the president? What are you hearing from the White House?

WALLACE: We're hearing the trip is definitely still on. You know, you heard the president himself saying yesterday in his words, quote, "no two-bit terrorist will keep him away." He'll be the first sitting U.S. president to make the trip.

Senior officials say that the president's security teams, Secret Service officials definitely reassessed the situation in light of that car bombing, but basically they're saying nothing has been presented to warrant changing the trip, of course, though, Bill, security normally would have been very tight. It will be even tighter. The Peruvian military on high alert. The whole area where the president will be cordoned off. So security likely to be intense, but the trip going on. President Bush saying he's looking very much forward to going there tomorrow -- Bill.

HEMMER: OK, Kelly, thanks. Lima, Peru on Saturday; El Salvador on Sunday. Kelly Wallace today in Monterey, Mexico.

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