|
Corporate
Council Africa
Travel Contacts |
|
CCA
President Praises Return of Democracy Hayes applauds the role of
Nigeria and African Union. He urges the U.S.
corporate sector to support economic
development. WASHINGTON, DC &endash;
President Fradique de Menezes returned to his
country, Sao Tome and Principe, on Wednesday, July
23, 2003 after a week-long bloodless coup ended
with an accord between the rebel leaders and
President Menezes. The president was accompanied by
Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo. The terms of
the accord stipulate that Menezes will resume his
role as President, and a new government of national
unity will be created with commitments to greater
transparency of oil dealings, respect of financial
rules and the establishment of a national forum.
Under the agreement, coup leaders will receive
general amnesty and withdraw their
barracks. CCA President Stephen
Hayes commended the quick action that has been
taken, stating, "We are pleased that the crisis in
Sao Tome & Principe has ended not only
peacefully, but with a full return to democracy.
President de Menezes was and is the democratically
elected president, and it is important that the
democratic process prevail. We are especially happy
that the crisis was resolved with the active
participation of other African leaders, especially
President Obasanjo of Nigeria and the President of
the African Union, Mozambique President Chissano.
The collapse of the coup can only be to the credit
of Africa and its leadership. Regardless of any
perceived mistakes of any political administration,
it is a sign of progress that these differences are
resolved openly in a democratic
society." Hayes pointed out that the
swift restoration of peace on the island country is
an encouragement to U.S. investors in the region.
He called upon the American investment community to
seize the opportunity. "It is now up to the
corporate sector to become more actively engaged
with Sao Tome & Principe than ever before.
Neither President de Menezes, nor any other leader,
will be able to fully address the issues at the
root of instability in the absence of economic
development. Moreover, if there is any country that
can work properly through sound economic
development it is country the size of Sao Tome
& Principe. If we can't make a difference
there, then how can we make a difference in
countries operating on a much larger scale? Now is
the time for us to become more engaged." The situation in Sao Tome
and Principe demonstrated the potential influence
of individual African leaders and the African
Union. Hayes urges these leaders to capitalize on
their influence in other continental crises. "I
think the African Union must now focus on ending
the Liberia conflict, working to insure a
transition to a genuine, transparent democracy.
Resolving the Liberia conflict is crucial to
ensuring continued peaceful economic development
throughout West Africa." CCA, established in 1993, is
a nonpartisan 501 (c) (3) membership organization
of over 160 U.S. companies dedicated to
strengthening the commercial relationship between
the U.S. and Africa. CCA members represent nearly
85 percent of total U.S. private sector investments
in Africa. CCA's website is at www.africacncl.org. |
|
|||||
