United States Embassy (Abidjan)
11 June 2008
This daily press review is compiled by the Information Section of the Public Affairs Office of the American Embassy in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire.
Notre Voie, a daily close to the ruling Front Populaire Ivoirien (FPI) party carried a reader's commentary on the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM). The 12th meeting of the Intergovernmental Overseeing and Coordination Committee on the South-South Cooperation of the Group of 77 plus China as well as the conference on the certification of the cocoa production, are the other top stories in today's papers.
1. Notre Voie (a daily close to the ruling party): The paper carried a reader's commentary on AFRICOM. Placed in the back page, the commentary titled "AFRICOM: The United States entangled by its good will and mistake," articulated the author's reaction to a digital video conference, which was organized by the American Embassy in Abidjan on AFRICOM on June 3, 2008. The writer said "At first glance, one cannot condemn this initiative of the United States for the fact that the African continent, which is playing an important role because of its raw materials, needs a diversified cooperation." He continued on to say that "the American good will" is being hampered by "a mistake," because "the negotiations on the AFRICOM are being conducted individually, on a country by country basis." He asserted that "This way of running this affair is a mistake, because African countries are often linked by trans-border realities (ethnic groups, conflicts...), and subsequently, any event that occurs in one country has repercussion in one or many other neighboring countries." The writer suggested that "AFRICOM should not be a one-country-affair or made for some countries that would accept the project. AFRICOM must be envisaged at a global, continental level." In this regard, the writer proposed that "the issue should be presented in an African Union Summit or be addressed in the framework of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union." The writer concluded that "This would allow the African countries to have a say on this military cooperation with the United States, and this should not be subject to economic cooperation or to any financial aid."
2. Fraternite Matin (a state-owned daily): The paper reported on the 12th meeting of the Inter-governmental, Overseeing, and Coordination Committee on the South-South Cooperation of the Group of 77 plus China. The paper said that President Laurent Gbagbo unveiled "two blueprints designed to address economic issues and the ongoing food crisis in developing countries," during the meeting, which is being held Yamoussoukro, the administrative capital. According to the paper, President Gbagbo called for the creation of an investment bank whose role is to promote business between developing countries. Gbagbo said: "This bank will be committed to the development of our countries, a credible and strong bank capable to propel our economies." Regarding the food crisis that is affecting many developing countries, the Ivorian leader proposed "a global solution;" he also called for "an UN-supported fund for the stabilization of food products."
3. L'inter (an independent daily): The paper reported that experts from cocoa-producing countries, including Cote d'Ivoire, are meeting in Abidjan to evaluate the certification protocol. The paper said, "According to international statistics published in 2005, about 200,000 children work in the cocoa plantations in Cote d'Ivoire." It also said that the Ivorian government signed a Harkin and Engel protocol in 2005; this protocol obliges the parties involved to show child labor has not been used in any stage of production. [NOTE: From January 9 -11, 2008 a U.S. Congressional delegation, consisting of Senators Harkin and Sanders and U.S. Representative Engel, visited Cote d'Ivoire to see first hand how stakeholders are implementing the Harkin-Engel Protocol. During their meetings with stakeholders, including the country's senior leadership - President Gbagbo and Prime Minister Soro, the delegation underscored the importance the American people place on ensuring that the chocolate eaten by the world's children is not produced by using abusive child labor or adult slave labor.]
Media Coverage of Embassy's Activities
In its June 10 edition, L'intelligent d'Abidjan (an independent daily) informed readers that the U.S. Embassy in Abidjan is organizing a series of conferences on the US elections.
Today, Fraternite Matin, L'intelligent d'Abidjan and Le Jour Plus (a privately-owned daily): the two dailies in today's editions reported on the conferences that have been organized by the U.S. Embassy in Abidjan on the electoral systems in the U.S. and Cote d'Ivoire. According to the papers, the discussions, which were led by Dr. Sheldon Gellar, an American political scientist and research associate, focused on issues including the importance of free and fair elections in a democratic society, grassroots democracy in the US, and the involvement of youth and women's organizations in the electoral process. According to Le Jour Plus, Dr. Gellar used the opportunity to present themes aimed at pre-empting violence during electoral periods. According to L'intelligent d'Abidjan, the speaker also spoke about the different froms of democracy. Dr Gellar, who is visiting Cote d'Ivoire June 7-14, 2008 on the IIP/S-AF Speaker & Specialist Programs, has been interviewed by ONUCI FM, the UN Radio in Cote d'Ivoire as well as Radio Cote d'Ivoire, the country's national radio. A portion of these interviews was broadcast on ONUCI FM and more excerpts will be aired in the coming days.
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