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Sunday Morning News

President Clinton Pledges U.S. Aid and Support to Nigeria

Aired August 27, 2000 - 8:00 a.m. ET

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

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: We begin this morning in Abuja, where President Clinton is on a historic trip to Nigeria. The visit is designed to show U.S. support for what Mr. Clinton calls the most important democratic transition in Africa since the fall of apartheid. With the political speeches behind him, Mr. Clinton visited a village near the capital this morning. Yesterday, he pledged U.S. aid and support to Nigeria.

CNN's John King is traveling with the president and he joins us live now with the latest.

Hi, John.

JOHN KING, CNN SR. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Kyra. Good morning to you.

As you mentioned, the official meetings done with yesterday, a meeting with the Nigerian president, a state dinner last night. Today, Mr. Clinton trying to get out of the capital and see a little bit of Nigerian life. He visited this morning the predominantly Muslim village of Yushafa (ph), greeted there by singing schoolchildren waving American and Nigerian flags. The villagers all gathered in the center of town to see their VIP host, giving him some gifts, including a robe which the President donned in the presence of his daughter Chelsea, the president looking quite happy and impressed with his gifts there.

Now, yesterday in the meetings he appealed for Nigeria's help in trying to bring down the price of oil. He promised more U.S. assistance. The president's remarks to the villagers more personal today, promising that as Nigeria makes the transition to democracy, tries to translate its oil riches into health and hope for the people living in remote areas, that the United States would be a full partner.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WILLIAM J. CLINTON, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I came to Nigeria to express the support of the people of the United States. We support your democracy. We want to help you build your economy, educate your children and build a better life.

(END VIDEO CLIP) KING: Mr. Clinton wandered through the town after his brief remarks shaking hands. Later today, he'll turn his attention to public health, the spread of AIDS, tuberculosis, other infectious diseases a major problem throughout Africa. The United States gives Nigeria high marks for how it has responded to the crisis, although it says this country needs much more money to rebuild the public health infrastructure. The president will address that this afternoon in his final day here in Nigeria. Then it is on to Tanzania, one last stop in Cairo to focus on the Middle East peace process before Mr. Clinton arrives back in the United States late Tuesday -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: John, I understand Clinton is going to meet with Nigerian business leaders. What's he expected to talk about?

KING: This has become a staple of the president's international policy. Think back to what I'll call the old days. The United States used to give large packages of aid to developing nations around the world. Despite the big federal budget surplus back home, there's no mood or appetite in the Congress anymore for big international aid packages so what has become a staple of the Clinton administration policy is to promote trade and business investment as a way of creating new alliances and new partnerships.

The president today will salute new trade agreements signed in the United States and try to encourage American businesses not only in the oil business, but also telecommunications, banking, finance, transportation infrastructure, try to encourage them to come and invest money here in Nigeria -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: John King with the president in Africa, thank you.

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