29 October 2001

Africans Reiterate Condolences in Wake of September 11 Terror Attack

Washington - Senegal's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cheikh Tidiane Gadio reiterated Africa's "heartfelt condolences and compassion" for the United States as Americans and people worldwide try to recover from the September 11 terror attack on the United States which killed and injured more than 5,000 people.

Speaking October 29 at the two day U.S. Sub-Saharan Africa Trade and Economic Cooperation Forum (AGOA) at the State Department in Washington, Gadio said "Your country and indeed , humanity at large, has been in deep mourning.... and yet the unreserved condemnation by all and the unanimous denouncing of these acts of barbarism and cruelty which have shaken the foundations of our common humanity, offer some solace and stand for the very strong signal that despite our political differences and the diversity of our cultures and religions, our fundamental values are the same."

As Secretary of State Colin Powell listened intently from the dais, Gadio (who spoke in French which was translated into English) told his audience "Like all African countries without exception -- my country Senegal -- through its president...forcefully condemned these crimes against humanity. We resolutely reject the perpetrators' vain effort to cloak such crimes in religious justification."

He said, "Islam, is a beautiful religion brought forth by Holy Scriptures and couched in the Koran -- that lofty and magnificent incarnation of a divine dialogue that speaks of tolerance, that speaks of love and peace and the sanctity of human life."

But that religion," he warned, "must not be brandished by the enemies of freedom, of love, and of sanctity of life."

Gadio reminded his audience of more than 30 African trade and finance ministers that last October 17 some 27 African countries met in Dakar to express their solidarity with the United States, issuing what has become known as the Declaration of Dakar. That document recommended to the Organization of African Unity (OAU) that a summit on terrorism be convened to address security problems on the African continent.

"Let us not forget," he reminded everyone, "Africa, too, in Kenya and Tanzania, had its own tragic rendezvous with the barbaric, random killing" when terrorists bombed the United States embassies in those two countries -- killing more Africans than Americans.

Turning to development, Gadio said just six days after the historic Dakar conference concluded, 15 African heads of state or their representatives traveled to Abuja, Nigeria to adopt the final text of an African initiative, which has become known as The New Partnership for African Development (NPDA).

"In framing the high hopes enshrined in the NPDA, Abuja has offered the present and future generations of Africa the opportunity to stand proud and enter through the front door the series of milestone events that have marked the development of our continent," he said

Now as a follow-up to Abuja, Gadio declared, "It is here in Washington that new relationships between the United States and Africa are being forged," through the AGOA forum.

The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) was voted into law in April 2000 and provides favorable export benefits to African nations reforming their economies along open market lines. So far, 35 sub-Saharan African nations have been deemed eligible for AGOA. African finance and trade ministers were gathered at the conference to discuss its implementation.

Turning again to Secretary Powell, Gadio said "In promoting this (AGOA) initiative... your African partners -- Mr. Secretary you and your colleagues at the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) and the United States Treasury -- are setting your own important work on a new path of economic and political renewal and renaissance on a country that has given its all to humanity but has not always received much in return."

Gadio then went on to praise President George Bush for honoring his promise to be an advocate and speak up for Africa at the G-8 and World Bank meetings. "He has done so...and (has) taken every opportunity as he did again this morning (at the preceding AGOA session which President Bush addressed) as a legitimate partner and believer in Africa. We thank him for that."

President Bush, Gadio told his audience, "speaks to the very spirit of AGOA -- which fits squarely with the NPDA."

Africa, he added, is looking for new partners and investors. "We would like to walk away from that old aid and credit axis which has indebted Africa and in fact, developed underdevelopment." After 40 years of finance and development through aid and credit, he said sadly, "Africa has gone from bad to worse."

But Gadio quickly praised the courage adopted by many African nations "to look hard into the mirror and shift the paradigm" to embrace the NPDA Initiative, which, he said, "flows freely" from this break with the past. The NPDA, he said, is good for Africa, and as such, "we earnestly hope it will quickly extend throughout the continent to the south and north of the Sahara."

Concluding, Gadio spoke bluntly, saying "If more than 3,000 years ago Africa was able to cradle the brilliant civilization of the Pharaohs in Egypt, Africa must simply...renew its historic initiative and surprise the world again" by making progress and improving the health of its peoples, the state of its agriculture, the condition of its investment capital and by further embracing the rule of law and respect for human rights.