[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 83 (Friday, May 28, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1000-E1001]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 PRESIDENT OF GABON, ALI BONGO ONDIMBA

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GREGORY W. MEEKS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, May 28, 2010

  Mr. MEEKS of New York. Madam Speaker, in early March, it was my 
pleasure and privilege to meet the new President of Gabon, Ali Bongo 
Ondimba.
  President Bongo was in New York in his capacity as head of state of 
the country that, for the month of March, presided over the United 
Nations Security Council. Gabon is one of three African countries that 
are members of the Security Council on a rotating basis.
  President Bongo came to office after the death of his predecessor 
last year. Between June and October, Acting President Rose Francine 
Rogombe, who had previously served as president of Gabon's Senate, led 
a smooth and swift transition.
  As a member of the Foreign Affairs subcommittee on Africa and Global 
Health, and Chair of the Financial Services Subcommittee on 
International Monetary Policy and Trade, I understand the importance of 
the relationship between the United States and countries of the Central 
African region.
  In our conversation, I was impressed by President Ali Bongo's 
determination to improve the quality of life for the people of Gabon. 
He is committed to eliminating corruption that has plagued Gabon in the 
past.
  I was particularly interested in Gabon's role as one of the six 
members of the Bank of Central African States and as a member of the 
Economic Community of Central African States. Gabon's capital city, 
Libreville, is also the location of one of the key regional offices of 
the African Development Bank, and it is the headquarters of the 
locally-owned and operated Gabonese Development Bank.
  As one might expect, Central African countries, including Gabon, were 
hit hard by the global economic meltdown of the past few years. As a 
report from the International Monetary Fund noted on March 15, ``The 
Gabonese economy went through a difficult year in 2009 due to the 
unusual domestic environment because of painful social developments and 
the preparation of the presidential elections on the one hand and to 
the unfavorable international economic situation on the other.''
  Given these circumstances, I listened carefully as President Bongo 
explained what his government and those of neighboring states were 
doing to stabilize currency in the region and to regularize customs and 
tariffs. He also expressed his desire for attracting more foreign 
investment to Gabon--especially beyond the dominant oil-industry 
sector--and his vision for how to achieve that.
  During his visit to the United States, President Bongo met with 
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton in Washington. Secretary 
Clinton said after their meeting that ``Gabon is a valued partner of 
the United States, and this visit gave us an opportunity to discuss a 
wide range of common concerns.'' She went on to thank President Bongo 
``for his and Gabon's efforts on behalf of regional stability in 
Central Africa and for its leadership on the world stage, particularly 
at the United Nations.''

  In line with my own conversation with President Bongo on the same 
topics, Secretary Clinton said ``We are very supportive of Gabon's 
efforts to diversify its economy, widen the circle of prosperity, and 
create new opportunities for its people'' and added: ``I want to 
recognize President Bongo's efforts to improve government efficiency, 
eliminate waste, and fight corruption.''
  To offer a sense of the purpose of President Bongo's visit to the 
United States, I would like to insert in the Record an article from 
America.gov by Jim Fisher-Thompson entitled ``Gabon's President Meets 
Clinton, Calls Corruption Africa's Cancer,'' which was published on 
March 9.

                    [From America.gov, Mar. 9, 2010]

   Gabon's President Meets Clinton, Calls Corruption Africa's Cancer

                        (By Jim Fisher-Thompson)

       Washington.--Gabon's president, Ali Bongo, intends to use 
     his country's two-year seat on the United Nations Security 
     Council to highlight democratic reforms and his fight against 
     corruption, which he terms a ``cancer'' sapping Africa's 
     strength and potential. ``Unfortunately, when it comes to the 
     African body, we have many diseases--and corruption is one of 
     them,'' Bongo told America.gov in an interview after meeting 
     with Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton March 8 at the 
     State Department.
       ``Corruption is a major problem that has to be stopped,'' 
     the African leader said, ``which is why we are committed to 
     fighting it. We know if we want to build a better future with 
     responsible people, we especially need accountability, and 
     this is what has been lacking.'' Gabon, with a population of 
     fewer than 2 million, is largely dependent on the energy and 
     extractive (mining and timber) sectors and is the fifth-
     largest supplier of oil in sub-Saharan Africa to the United 
     States. In 2009, the nongovernment group Transparency 
     International rated the nation 106 out of 180 countries in 
     its annual corruption index, tied with Argentina, The Gambia, 
     Niger and Benin.
       After his election as president in August 2009 and before 
     traveling to the United States, Bongo instituted a number of 
     government reforms, including cutting Cabinet posts while 
     restructuring the Treasury Department and launching an 
     environmental effort called ``Green Gabon.''
       At the same time, he streamlined government by eliminating 
     several agencies and bureaucracies that were hindering 
     innovation and investment in Gabon. He has also threatened 
     criminal penalties for persons attempting to bribe public 
     officials, according to a recent press report.
       Despite the challenges of corruption and reform, Bongo told 
     America.gov: ``I remain

[[Page E1001]]

     optimistic about Africa's future. We know we will make 
     mistakes; we will struggle, and at times we will fall. But we 
     will get up and move forward.''
       In international affairs, Bongo said U.S.-Gabon relations 
     are ``very good,'' adding, ``We would like more progress on 
     the economic front and are working on a trade agreement with 
     the U.S. government.''
       Acknowledging Gabon's new responsibilities on the U.N. 
     Security Council, Bongo said, ``We are going to work very 
     closely with the United States and all the permanent members 
     of the Security Council to make sure that the world is a 
     better place.'' He had earlier addressed the Security 
     Council, which Gabon chairs for the month of March.
       Speaking to the press after her private meeting with the 
     African leader, Secretary Clinton said, ``I want to recognize 
     President Bongo's efforts to improve government efficiency, 
     eliminate waste and fight corruption.
       ``We know, as the president knows, that economic progress 
     depends on responsible governance that rejects corruption, 
     enforces the rule of law, provides good stewardship of 
     natural resources and delivers results that help to change 
     people's lives for the better.
       ``We stand ready to support Gabon as it further strengthens 
     its democratic institutions and processes,'' Clinton said.
       The secretary added, ``We are very supportive of Gabon's 
     efforts to diversify its economy, widen the circle of 
     prosperity and create new opportunities for its people. Gabon 
     is participating in the Extractive Industries Transparency 
     Initiative and taking other steps that will give confidence 
     both to international investors but, more importantly, to the 
     people of the country.''
       Speaking two days before the State Department issues its 
     annual human rights report, Clinton said: ``I also want to 
     applaud the leadership that Gabon has shown in combating 
     human trafficking. We have forged new partnerships with the 
     Justice Department, and Gabon is moving toward ratifying the 
     U.N. protocol. This is one more example of the reform-minded 
     leadership that President Bongo is bringing to his country.''
       ``We've come a long way,'' Bongo responded. ``We've gone 
     through a democratic process, and now we are moving forward. 
     Good governance, [the] fight against corruption, diversity 
     [in] our economy and our partners. This is what we're 
     doing.''

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