[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 7] [Extensions of Remarks] [Pages 10002-10003] [From the U.S. 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 [[Page 10003]] 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 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.'' ____________________