[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.