STRONG USG REPRESENTATION AT TANZANIA'S SULLIVAN SUMMIT

UNCLAS DAR ES SALAAM 000412 SIPDIS DEPT AF/EPS FOR ABREITER, AADLER AF/E FOR JLIDDLE DEPT PASS TO DEPT OF INTERIOR FOR SECT KEMPTHORNE PASS TO USTR FOR AUSTR FLISER DEPT OF COMMERCE FOR BERKUL E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON EAID ETRD EINV TZ SUBJECT: STRONG USG REPRESENTATION AT TANZANIA'S SULLIVAN SUMMIT Summary -------------- ¶1. The Leon H. Sullivan Foundation greatly appreciated The strong U.S. Government (USG) representation at the Eighth Annual Sullivan Summit held in Arusha, Tanzania from June 2 to 6. Led by a White House Delegation headed by Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne, almost all USG departments and agencies with assistance programs in Africa were represented. Ambassador Green addressed the Summit at the Opening Ceremony the first evening. Side meetings, including a meeting between Secretary Kempthorne and Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete, were productive and should yield positive results in the future. Throughout the Sullivan Foundation organizers repeatedly praised the USG support and thanked Embassy Dar es Salaam for providing consular and security services during the entire week of the Summit. End Summary. ¶2. The Leon H. Sullivan Foundation held the eighth annual Sullivan Summit in Arusha, Tanzania from June 2-6, 2008. Hosted by Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete, almost 3,000 delegates and participants from 31 countries attended the proceedings. Ambassador Andrew Young and Ms. Hope Masters, the daughter of Leon Sullivan, co-chaired the Summit. The Foundation stated that 546 participants came from America including Rev. Jesse Jackson, an NBA player from the Golden State Warriors, Kelenna Azubuike, and comedian Chris Tucker. The main themes were investment, environment, tourism, infrastructure, health and education. The Presidents of Tanzania, Sudan, Rwanda, Kenya, Mozambique and the Vice-Presidents of the Burundi and Comoros attended a June 4 Presidential Plenary session. The Sullivan Foundation announced that the Ninth Annual Sullivan Summit will be held in Rwanda in 2010. Strong Showing from the USG -------------- ¶3. Over forty officials from the USG represented their various agencies and departments at the Arusha Sullivan Summit. The White House delegation was comprised of Secretary of Interior, Dirk Kempthorne; the Chairman of GOPAC, Michael Steele; Executive Vice President of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), John Simon; Chairman of the African Development Foundation, Edward Brehm; and former American Idol contestant Melinda Doolitte. The USG contingent played a significant role throughout the many events of the Summit. Assistant Secretary Frazer represented the State Department and was warmly received by members of the Sullivan Foundation and by delegates from many African governments who attended the Summit. ¶4. Almost all the panels and workshops included high-level USG officials as moderators or panelists. In a special forum entitled "The U.S. Government Role in Enhancing Business, Trade and Investment in Africa" officials from OPIC, the Office of the Trade Representative (USTR),the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), USAID and the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) clearly outlined ways in which the USG can assist in improving the business and investment climate throughout the continent. Officials from the Departments of Energy, Transportation, Interior and Defense also took part in various sessions focused on energy, tourism and the environment. Side Meetings Advance USG Trade Relations -------------- ¶5. The USG delegation held a number of bilateral meetings during the Summit. Secretary Kempthorne and his delegation held meetings with Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete and the Minister of Tourism and Natural Resources, Hon. Mrs. Shamsa Mwangunga. In the meeting with President Kikwete, Secretary Kempthorne discussed possible areas of mutual cooperation to protect the fauna, flora and antiquities in Tanzania. Kikwete presented Secretary Kempthorne with suggestions of ways in which the Department of Interior could assist Tanzania to preserve and manage their national parks and historical sites. This included U.S. Department of Interior trainers or instructors to assist on a short-term basis at the GOT's regional training center for Wildlife Managers and Rangers; a request for capacity building in how to preserve old buildings and mosques, with a focus on buildings constructed from mud or limestone; and more anti-poaching equipment, in particular, night vision goggles for the park rangers. ¶6. Assistant Secretary Frazer also held a number of bilateral meetings to be reported reftels A and B. Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Africa, Florie Liser, held productive discussions with Secretary General Juma Mwapachuof the East African Community (EAC) on final steps to move forward to the signing of a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement between the United States and the East African Community. The Secretary General promised AUSTR Liser that he would be bringing it for a consensus decision in the upcoming EAC summit scheduled for Kigali Rwanda, the last week of June. Conference Leadership Notes Appreciation -------------- ¶7. The leadership of the Sullivan Foundation greatly appreciated the USG support. The Senior Vice President and Conference Organizer, Ralph Perkins, stated that the foundation realized during their first summit in the Ivory Coast in 1991 that without the support of Washington-based USG officials and the Embassy a successful Summit was impossible. Outside of White House delegation and the many high-level USG officials that served as panelists, the Foundation was thankful for the consular and security support from the Embassy that was made available in Arusha for the entirety of the summit. GREEN