Few UK Politicians Greet Bush – Blair Says Not An Issue
Press Briefing: 3.45pm Wednesday 19 November 2003 Re: President Bush
Asked for the Prime Minister's reaction to the content and tone of the President's speech, the PMOS said that the Prime
Minister had thought it had been seriously impressive and very thoughtful. It had covered a wide range of significant
issues, including how to meet the security challenges of the twenty first century, as well as the opportunities that
went hand in hand with that, such as making progress in the Middle East and seeing the spread of democracy and freedom.
He also thought it had been an extremely articulate account of the shared values which united our two countries for
good. Asked whether he meant 'for good' against evil or forever, the PMOS said both. Asked why there had been so few
British politicians in the audience for the President's speech, the PMOS pointed out that the Foreign Secretary and
Defence Secretary had been present. The President was also due to meet other senior politicians during the course of
this afternoon. In addition, a number of politicians would be attending the State Banquet this evening. He didn't think
it was an issue.
The Prime Minister's Official Spokesman (PMOS) previewed the Prime Minister and President's roundtable discussion on
HIV/Aids tomorrow afternoon and gave journalists some background. The President would be joined by his Global Aids
Co-ordinator, Randall Tobias. The International Development Secretary, Hilary Benn would also attend. Representatives
from Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda and Zambia would be present, as well as members of charities, NGOs and people from
the business community. The meeting would provide an opportunity to underline the importance of the fight against
HIV/Aids and the efforts which both the UK and the US were making. The PMOS informed journalists that 42 million people
were living with HIV, 71% of them in sub-Saharan Africa. Globally, there were 3 million deaths from Aids last year and 5
million new infections. In terms of funding, President Bush had committed $15bn over five years. The UK's bilateral
funding had increased in the past six years from £38m to more than £270m in 2002/3. Questioned as to whether there would
be an increase in contributions to the Global Fund tomorrow, the PMOS said he didn't think so. Both the UK Government
and the US Administration had already set out their current spending commitments in this area. Tomorrow's meeting was an
opportunity to hear from different people in the field about how we could meet some of the challenges facing us
together. It was not an occasion for pre-cooked announcements. The PMOS said that Mrs Blair and the First Lady would
watch a group of 11-15 year-olds, who were taking part in the Shakespeare Schools Festival, performing in Downing
Street. There would be scenes from a Midsummer Night's Dream, Richard III and Macbeth. The programme was an initiative
which offered youngsters the chance to perform Shakespeare in a professional theatre environment. The students
participating tomorrow would be from schools from Harrogate, Huddersfield and Newton Abbott.