Secretary Rice Holds Talks with Equatorial Guinean President

President Obiang praises his country's relationship with United States

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice welcomed President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo of Equatorial Guinea to the State Department April 12 for what she called a "full set" of talks about the United States' relationship with his country.

Speaking to reporters at the State Department prior to their meeting, Rice said: "I'm very pleased to welcome the president of Equatorial Guinea, President Obiang. We will have a full set of discussions about our bilateral relationship, about some innovative social programs that USAID [U.S. Agency for International Development] is involved with and about the range of regional issues that we both confront.

"So thank you very much for your presence here. You are a good friend and we welcome you," she told the president.

In his comments, President Obiang thanked Secretary Rice for her words, saying his country has "extremely good relations" with the United States and has enjoyed "good relations with the United States for a very long time."

"My visit here is simply ... to consolidate and also to establish further ties of cooperation with your country," the president said.

The Equatorial Guinean leader noted that just one day earlier, he signed a "very important agreement with USAID"- an agreement for the development of Equatorial Guinea, which will be helped with financing from the United States for social programs so the country's people "may enjoy greater prosperity and are able to combat poverty."

Obiang said the people of Equatorial Guinea are "extremely pleased and hopeful" that their present relationship with the United States "will continue to grow in friendship and cooperation. I thank you very much."

USAID AGREEMENT WILL AID SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

USAID April 11 entered into a unique memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Equatorial Guinea to establish a social development fund in the country, implementing projects in the areas of health, education, women's affairs and the environment.

Using only its own government revenues, Equatorial Guinea is contributing $15 million to USAID to provide technical assistance to support implementation of the fund, according to a USAID press release.

Those funds, according to USAID, "will be instrumental in fostering transparency and accountability in the design, implementation and evaluation of social needs projects."

USAID Administrator Randall Tobias, who spoke at the signing ceremony, called the MOU a "landmark agreement."

"Equatorial Guinea's decision to use government revenues for social development needs," he said, "demonstrates visionary leadership and the potential of true transformation. This kind of agreement," he told his audience, "can serve as a model for future partnerships around the world, and USAID graciously accepts these resources."

USAID's technical support of the fund will be managed through USAID's West Africa Regional Program in Accra, Ghana.

Cindy Courville, special assistant to the president and senior director for African affairs at the National Security Council, reminded everyone at the ceremony that "the focus of this dialogue is transformation. The rewards for future generations will be great."

Lloyd Pierson, USAID assistant administrator for the Bureau for Africa, acted as master of ceremonies for the event.

ASSISTANT SECRETARY FRAZER TRAVELED TO EQUATORIAL GUINEA

Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Jendayi Frazer recently traveled to Equatorial Guinea. While in Malabo, she met with Equatorial Guinean Foreign Minister Micha Ondo Bile.

Frazer also had a series of meetings with other government officials and with the American Chamber of Commerce during her stay in Malabo. In addition, she launched the new consular section at the U.S. Embassy and visited a health clinic involved in anti-malarial efforts, which is supported by a U.S. oil company working in the country.

Source: U.S. Department of State

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