President Bush meets with former South African President and Nobel Laureate Nelson Mandela Monday. The two men are to discuss a range of topics, including Mandela's efforts to promote universal education in Africa and how to stem the growing AIDS crisis, particularly in South Africa. The meeting also culminates a weeklong American visit that Mandela admits he may be too frail to make again. Allison Keyes reports.
ED GORDON, host: From NPR news, this is NEWS & NOTES.  I'm Ed Gordon.</s>ED GORDON, host: President Bush meets with former South African President and Nobel      laureate Nelson Mandela today.  The two men are to discuss a range of      topics, including Mandela's efforts to promote universal education in      Africa and reduce the growing AIDS crisis, particularly in South Africa.      The meeting comes at the end of a weeklong US trip which Mandela used to      launch the Nelson Mandela Legacy Trust.  NPR's Allison Keyes has more.</s>ALLISON KEYES reporting: At the Washington, DC-based Brookings Institute yesterday, Mandela      received a strong ovation after a speech detailing exactly what kind of      help African countries can use from what he calls the developed countries      of the West.</s>Former President NELSON MANDELA (South Africa; Nobel Laureate): The US      and other donor nations should provide substantially greater economic      assistance on terms that are more flexible and responsive to the      priorities set by Africans themselves.  At the same time, African leaders      need to agree to abide by internationally accepted standards of      transparency, accountability and good governance.</s>KEYES: The 86-year-old Nobel laureate's voice is faded a bit by age.      His hair is snow white now, and he needs assistance standing and walking,      but his commitment to eliminating the ills that plague his continent is      as strong as ever.</s>Former President NELSON MANDELA (South Africa; Nobel Laureate): I know that my president, Thabo Mbeki, and other African      leaders are looking forward to the G8 Summit in Scotland in July.</s>KEYES: At last year's gathering of the world's leading industrial      powers, hosted by President Bush, a plan was announced to help Africa by      developing an anti-AIDS vaccine and by training African troops for      peacekeeping missions. Mandela makes it clear that assistance is needed,      but without the strings that are often tied to foreign aid.</s>Former President NELSON MANDELA (South Africa; Nobel Laureate): True democracy cannot be imposed nor transplanted.  It must      be homegrown and a product of consensus and inclusivity within any given      country. That is why we disagree on the matter of Iraq.  Such      disagreements are not uncommon among friends.  In fact, they are a mark      of strong, candid and honest friendship.</s>KEYES: Mandela's visit here is part of an effort to launch a trust fund      that will support his foundations in South Africa aimed at helping      children, fostering democracy, fighting HIV-AIDS and improving education.</s>Unidentified Man: I confer upon you, Nelson Mandela, the degree of      Doctor of Humane Letters with all the rights and privileges pertaining      thereto.</s>KEYES: Last week Mandela and his wife, Graca Machel, both received      honorary doctorates from Amherst College in Massachusetts.  Mandela      issued a challenge to America's colleges and universities to offer an      education based on a student's merits, not their pedigree.</s>Former President NELSON MANDELA (South Africa; Nobel Laureate): Challenges of ensuring full access according to ability      rather than wealth or privilege.  All institutions of higher education      have the obligation to open the door more widely.</s>KEYES: Last week Mandela met with former President Bill Clinton.  Over      the weekend at Harlem's historic Riverside Church, Congressman Charlie      Rangel compared Mandela's life with that of Christ.  Former New York City      Mayor David Dinkins and actor-civil rights activist Harry Belafonte also      spoke.  And after his speech at Brookings yesterday, Mandela met with the      Congressional Black Caucus.  Nelson Mandela warned the congregation this      weekend that health concerns mean this is likely his final visit to the      United States.  Allison Keyes, NPR News, New York.