    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1998, Book I)]
    [March 25, 1998]
    [Pages 434-438]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Communique: Entebbe Summit for Peace and Prosperity
    March 25, 1998

    Joint Declaration of Principles

    The Entebbe Summit of Heads of State and Government

        At the joint invitation of H.E. President Yoweri Kaguta
    Museveni of the Republic of Uganda
    and H.E. President William Jefferson Clinton of the United States of
    America, their excellencies Mr. Daniel T. arap Moi, President of the Republic of Kenya, Mr. Pasteur
    Bizimungu, President of the Republic of
    Rwanda, Mr. Benjamin William Mkapa,
    President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Mr. Laurent Desire
    Kabila, President of the Democratic
    Republic of Congo, Mr. Meles Zenawi, Prime
    Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, and Mr. Salim
    Ahmed Salim, Secretary-General of the
    Organization of African Unity, met on Wednesday 25 March, 1998 at
    Entebbe, Uganda.
        The exchange of views between the African leaders and the President
    of the United States marks a new beginning, launching a process of
    defining and building a U.S.-Africa partnership for the 21st Century.
    The Heads of State and Government reaffirm the historical bonds between
    the people of America and Africa. We pledge to deepen these ties through
    a lasting partnership rooted in common values and recognition of our
    interdependence, and built upon mutual respect and the sovereign
    equality of nations. The Leaders commit themselves to honor and execute
    agreements mutually concluded by all the parties to rigorously pursue
    Africa's economic growth and transformation, and full integration into
    the global economy.

    Putting Partnership into Practice:

        The Heads of State and Government recognize that to effect this new,
    genuine and transparent partnership, there is a need to commit ourselves
    to the identification and acknowledgment of both our mutual and
    divergent interests, the pursuit of free and frank discussions, and a
    clear understanding of the roles and responsibilities of each partner.

    A Partnership Built on Principle and a Shared Vision:

        The Heads of State and Government recognize that a lasting
    partnership must be built on the principles of shared ownership, joint
    responsibility, and full transparency.
        The Heads of State and Government further acknowledge a shared vital
    interest in long-term meaningful engagement. We affirm that Africa and
    the United States hold a mutual interest: in fostering Africa's economic
    and political transformation and full integration into the global
    economy, and in promoting democratic participation and respect for human
    rights. We affirm that social, economic and political inclusion is the
    foundation for lasting peace and stability. The Leaders declared that
    African and American security interests alike will be advanced by a
    joint attack on the transnational problems of terrorism, disease,
    proliferation of weapons, drug trafficking and environmental
    degradation.

    On Building a New Economic Future:

        Recognizing that Africa's stability, and democracy's viability, are
    rooted in the alleviation of

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    poverty and the achievement of sustainable economic development, the
    Heads of State and Government commit themselves to a series of measures
    designed to speed Africa's transformation and full integration into the
    global economy, and to expand mutually beneficial trade and investment
    opportunities:
        The Leaders commit themselves to fostering an expanded
                African and international dialogue, aimed at defining
                strategies to facilitate Africa's global integration that
                are as flexible and creative as those applied to post-war
                Europe and Asia;
        The Heads of State and Government reaffirm the importance of
                Inter-Governmental Authority on Development and East African
                Cooperation initiatives to facilitate regional economic
                integration and create a larger regional market, and commit
                themselves to identifying ways and means to accelerate these
                and other efforts;
        Endorsing the conclusions of the World Bank Summit convened
                in Kampala in January 1998, the Leaders agree to target
                their own efforts in four critical areas, and to encourage
                the multilateral institutions to also fully support:

                the development of a sustained international dialogue, based
                on mutual respect, on how to ensure that mandated economic
                reform programs reflect the specific circumstances of
                individual countries;

                the expansion of external resource flows, directed, in
                particular, at human resource development, infrastructure,
                rural development and research;

                increased investment in the physical infrastructure required
                to sustain regional trade and integration;

                building African capacity to lead the economic reform
                process through transparent and accountable political and
                economic institutions.

        The United States affirms the priority it attaches to speedy
                implementation of President Clinton's Partnership for
                Economic Growth and the enactment of the African Growth and
                Opportunity Act, legislation that will permit broader market
                access for African goods;
        The Heads of State and Government affirm the African Growth
                and Opportunity Act as a major step forward in U.S.-African
                economic relations, but acknowledge that this effort to
                provide greater market access for African goods must be
                complemented by efforts to increase African capacity to
                diversify economies and produce exportable goods;
        The Heads of State and Government pledge to work together to
                explore ways and means of ensuring that this Act, and other
                measures including but not limited to initiatives of the
                multilateral financial institutions, reflect and build upon
                the diversity, in both circumstances and approach, of
                Africa's national economies;
        The Heads of State and Government also emphasize the
                critical need to further strengthen, in particular,
                agricultural production and processing, including through
                the transfer of technologies;
        The Heads of State and Government welcome the decision of
                the U.S. Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), to
                target $500 million for infrastructure investment in Sub-
                Saharan Africa;
        In the interest of further expanding U.S. private investment
                in the region and across Africa, the Heads of State and
                Government are committed to undertaking concrete measures
                aimed at promoting African investment opportunities, and to
                building African capacity to further enhance the economic
                policy environment;
        In recognition of the African desire for increased self-
                sufficiency and the dangers of aid dependency, the Heads of
                State and Government agree that an accelerated effort should
                be made to use foreign assistance as a tool for the
                enhancement of trade, investment and capital formation, as
                well as for sustainable economic development;
        The Heads of State and Government recognize the continuing
                obstacle that the debt burden poses to Africa's economic
                transformation, and reaffirm their collective determination
                to fully implement innovative approaches to the management
                and lessening of the debt burden;

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        The Heads of State and Government commend ongoing African
                efforts, as well as those of Africa's partners, to increase
                transparency, fight corruption and support better business
                practices, and welcome regional and continental efforts to
                further these aims.

    On Condemnation of Acts of Genocide

        The Heads of State and Government recognize the accomplishment of
    the Government of Rwanda in halting the 1994 genocide, condemn all acts
    of genocide and pledge to undertake a concerted effort to prevent is
    resurgence. To this end:
        All Heads of State and Government condemn the continued
                atrocities of the ex-FAR, the Interahamwe and their allies,
                pledge to work together to prohibit future atrocities in the
                Great Lakes region, including those aided and abetted by
                external arms suppliers, call for the revitalization and
                expansion of the UN Arms Flow Commission, and are committed
                to publicize and duly consider its findings;
        African Heads of State and Government pledge to deny
                extremist networks the use of their territory, postal
                services, airports, financial institutions, passports, road
                networks and communications systems. The Summit calls upon
                all states to implement tight controls over these networks
                abroad;
        All Heads of State and Government pledge to support the
                efforts of the OAU Eminent Personalities Study of the Rwanda
                Genocide and the Surrounding Events, and to duly consider
                its findings and recommendations;
        The United States commits itself to working with regional
                partners and others to begin exploring, within one month's
                time, the creation of an international Coalition Against
                Genocide, the aims of which might include: fostering
                international coordination in support of regional efforts to
                enforce anti-genocide measures; providing a forum for high-
                level deliberations on long-term efforts to prevent genocide
                in the future; and ensuring international support for the
                findings of the OAU Study;
        The Heads of State and Government commend the Government of
                Rwanda for its efforts to render justice for the victims of
                the genocide and to prevent acts of revenge. We call upon
                the international community to redouble its efforts to work
                with the Government of Rwanda to achieve these goals;
        The Heads of State and Government recognize recent progress
                made by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, but
                express their concern about the slow pace with which the
                Tribunal's work has proceeded, urge the ICTR to do
                everything within its power to accelerate the processing of
                its cases, and call on all nations to cooperate fully and
                expeditiously with the Tribunal;
        The Heads of State and Government affirm that the
                restoration of regional peace and stability requires an end
                to the culture of impunity and the restoration of the rule
                of law, and pledge their best efforts to strengthening
                national systems of civilian and military justice. The
                United States commits itself through the Great Lakes Justice
                Initiative, to an expanded effort to help the public and
                private sectors in Rwanda, Burundi and the Democratic
                Republic of Congo develop justice systems that are
                impartial, credible, and effective, and to support efforts
                to promote inclusion, coexistence, cooperation and security;

    On Fostering Democratic Participation, Human Rights and Regional
    Stability:

        The Heads of State and Government affirm that the destiny and
    security of Africa rest primarily in the hands of Africans themselves.
    The Leaders pledge to seek additional resources and, in consultation
    with the OAU and UN, to build upon ongoing efforts, both regionally and
    internationally, to strengthen and sustain regional security and African
    peacekeeping capacity. The Leaders condemn, and pledge continued
    cooperative efforts to resist, all forms of cross-border terrorism
    directed against civilians.
        Recognizing that the stability of the region also depends on the
    sustainability of African democratization, the Heads of State and
    Government endorse the core principles of inclusion, the rule of law,
    respect for human rights, the equality of all men and women, and the
    right of citizens to regularly elect their leaders freely and to
    participate fully in the decision-making which affects them. Further:

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        The Heads of State and Government pledge to pursue a
                dialogue on democratization that: accepts these core
                principles; recognizes that there is no fixed model for
                democratic institutions or transformation; explores
                alternative approaches to the democratic management of
                cultural diversity; and takes into account differences in
                historical experience;
        The Heads of State and Government recognize the central role
                of freely-elected governments in leading Africa's economic
                and political transformation, the need to ensure that those
                governments attain the capacity to lead effectively and
                transparently, and the need to foster a healthy and
                mutually-accountable relationship between elected
                governments and a vibrant and responsible civil society;
        The Heads of State and Government affirm the vital role
                national organizations of civil society can play in easing
                the transition from conflict and authoritarian rule to
                participatory democracy, and in contributing to the region's
                social, political and economic development;
        Recognizing the critical roles local and national
                institutions of government play in providing a foundation
                for democracy, the Heads of State and Government urge all
                concerned that increased emphasis be given to building the
                capacity of these institutions;
        The Heads of State and Government underscore a shared
                commitment to respect for human rights, as articulated in
                the UN Declaration of Human Rights and the African Charter
                on Human and People's Rights;
        The Heads of State and Government urge the international
                community to take note of the lessons learned from the
                region's tragic past. We pledge to uphold humanitarian
                principles, including the right of civilians to assistance
                in situations of conflict, and the protection of refugees
                and non-combatants. We call on the international community
                and host countries to prevent any future delivery of
                humanitarian assistance to armed combatants; to work to
                insure that refugees are not subjected to political
                intimidation; and to work closely with regional actors, both
                governmental and non-governmental, to insure access by
                humanitarian providers to all populations in need;
        The Heads of State and Government applaud the commitment and
                effort made by the OAU Mechanism for Conflict Prevention,
                Management and Resolution, and by emerging sub-regional
                bodies, such as the Inter-Governmental Authority on
                Development, to foster African-led approaches to conflict
                prevention, management and resolution and pledge to work
                towards building further international support for these
                efforts.

    On Pursuing the Partnership Into the Future:

        The Heads of State and Government unanimously agree to explore
    mechanisms for regular consultations and encounters at the highest level
    between African and U.S. leaders. Noting the importance of mutual
    understanding between African and American citizens, we call for
    expanded cultural and educational exchanges.
        The African leaders noted with appreciation President Clinton's
    historic visit to Africa and express the hope that his presence on the
    continent has opened a new chapter in Africa-U.S. relations. The Heads
    of State and Government recognize that the development of a lasting
    partnership, characterized by shared ownership and meaningful
    engagement, will require commitment, time and patience. The Leaders
    commit themselves to pursue this objective in the spirit of mutual
    respect, to deepen a frank and honest dialogue, to evaluate jointly
    progress made in the months ahead, and to secure a meaningful and
    lasting partnership for the 21st Century.
        The President of the U.S.A. and the African Heads of State and
    Government express deep appreciation to President Yoweri Kaguta
    Museveni, the Government and the
    people of Uganda for the warm hospitality accorded to them during their
    visit to Uganda.
    Done at Entebbe, Uganda on Wednesday 25 March, 1998.

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    William Jefferson Clinton,              Yoweri Kaguta Museveni,
    President of the United States of       President of the Republic of
     America.                                Uganda.
    Daniel T. arap Moi,                         eq>Pasteur Bizimungu,
    President of the Republic of Kenya.     President of the Republic of
                                             Rwanda.
    Benjamin William Mkapa,             eq>Laurent Desire Kabila,
    President of the United Republic of     President of the Democratic
     Tanzania.                               Republic of Congo.
    Meles Zenawi,
    Prime Minister of the Federal
     Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.

    Entebbe, Uganda

    25. March, 1998

    Note: The joint statement was made available by the Office of the Press
    Secretary but was not issued as a White House press release. An original
    was not available for verification of the content of this joint
    statement.