Ambassador Addresses Association of International

UNCLAS ABIDJAN 000550 FOR ECA/PE/V/G/A EBUTLER AND CASSANDRA DYSON; ECA/PE/V/M AMOYLAN; FOR AF/PD (LYNN, TOLLEFSON, EHRNMAN),AF/RSA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV KPAO OEXC SCUL IV SUBJECT: Ambassador Addresses Association of International Visitors at Cote d'Ivoire Anti-Corruption Conference, September 12, 2009 ¶1. Description of activity: On September 12, 2009, U.S. Ambassador to the Cote d'Ivoire Wanda L. Nesbitt offered remarks at a conference on development and corruption organized by the Association of International Visitors of Cote d'Ivoire (Association Ivoirienne des Visiteurs Internationaux aux USA or AIVI-USA). The conference, which was held in Bouake, the "capital" of the former rebel group, the New Forces, marked the third stop in an anti-corruption campaign caravan the association initiated last spring. The Bouake' conference focused on "transparent public procurement policies." Earlier conferences were held in Daloa and Yamoussoukro, on "justice and corruption" and "education and corruption" on May 22nd and 27th, 2009, respectively. Bouake's mayor and representatives from the Prime Minister's office and the prefet were present on the dais and offered welcoming remarks. ¶2. Date of activity: September 12, 2009 ¶3. Program justification / Objectives: AIVI is an IVLP Alumni Association dedicated to sharing their U.S. experience with the Ivoirian population. In conveying the anti-corruption message in the ex-rebel stronghold of Bouake, the AIVI hopes to reduce the development gap between the North (ex-rebel zone) and South (governmental zone) by promoting transparency and good governance values. ¶4. MSP themes: Democracy, Transparency and Good Governance, Economic Growth ¶5. Activities / Impact / Result: the Bouake step welcomed two special guest speakers: Mrs. Dje Bi Dje, lecturer on Public Markets at the Faculty of Law at the University of Cocody, Abidjan, and Ambassador Wanda Nesbitt. The speakers' presentations discussed various aspects of corruption and the obstacles it places on the path to development and prosperity. Mrs. Dje Bi Dje remarks focused on the Government's need to institute a public procurement policy that would be fair and transparent and lead to a competitive, merit-based process. In her opinion, the Government has not always followed such a policy. While agreeing with the substance of Mrs. Dje Bi Dje remarks, the Ambassador additionally identified corruption as a threat to a social welfare. The audience was made up of women's associations, student organizations, youth, non-governmental organization members, journalists and local administrative authorities. The event sparked a lively discussion during the question-and-answer. While acknowledging the need for widespread action in fighting corruption, a woman in the audience suggestion that action should start at the grassroots level, by educating children at an early age that corruption is both morally wrong and detrimental to society. Ambassador Nesbitt stressed the important role society must play in rewarding those who are honest over those who are not. The AIVI Executive bureau reported that since the Caravan began they have received calls and messages from people congratulating them on their work and at times, requesting them to visit their region. As a result, AIVI has decided to take the anti- corruption message to the remaining fifty three regions in CQte d'Ivoire in the coming months. PAS plans to encourage AIVI to apply for an ECA Alumni grant to support their important work. ¶6. Quality of USG support: Excellent. The PAS Information Resource Center (IRC) provided printed materials to the audience. More than three hundred handouts, including IIP ejournals, pamphlets and books were distributed. The recently arrived Deputy Public Affairs officer attended the Bouake conference to underscore PAS? interest and support for the activities of the alumni association. ¶7. Media: The conference was widely covered by the media. Fraternite Matin reported that the Association of the International Visitors of Cote d'Ivoire (AIVI-USA) - had called on Ivorians to fight corruption. "The only way to fight corruption is to denounce it," the paper quoted Ambassador Nesbitt as saying. "Nesbitt is waging a war against corruption," said a another report in Nord-Sud Quotidien. Other papers ran similar stories. NESBITT