Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09COTONOU239
2009-06-05 10:23:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Cotonou
Cable title:
COTONOU GPRA REPORT ON THE DVC "PRESIDENT OBAMA'S FIRST 100
how-toVZCZCXRO2712 RR RUEHMA RUEHPA DE RUEHCO #0239 1561023 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 051023Z JUN 09 ZDK FM AMEMBASSY COTONOU TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0957 INFO RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 1456 RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS COTONOU 000239
DEPARTMENT FOR AF/PD (ANYASO, TITUS, LISENBY),AF/W (ACOOK)
AMEMBASSY PARIS FOR ARS (COWHER)
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KDEM KPAO BN
SUBJECT: COTONOU GPRA REPORT ON THE DVC "PRESIDENT OBAMA'S FIRST 100
DAYS"
UNCLAS COTONOU 000239
DEPARTMENT FOR AF/PD (ANYASO, TITUS, LISENBY),AF/W (ACOOK)
AMEMBASSY PARIS FOR ARS (COWHER)
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KDEM KPAO BN
SUBJECT: COTONOU GPRA REPORT ON THE DVC "PRESIDENT OBAMA'S FIRST 100
DAYS"
1. DESCRIPTION OF ACTIVITY:
On May 19, PAS Cotonou hosted a Digital Video Conference program
entitled "President Barack Obama's First 100 days." The program
began with opening remarks from PAO Rhonda Watson, followed by
Africa Regional Services (ARS) Deputy Director Linda Cowher's
welcome remarks and introduction of the Speaker, Dr. Lorenzo Morris.
After Morris' 20-minute presentation, guests participated actively
by asking several questions, including the following: What will be
the U.S. policy towards Africa during President Barack Obama's
administration? What is President Obama's plan to promote
development in Africa? What can the Beninese youth do to achieve
change in Benin like President Obama is doing in the United States?
What can the Obama administration do to provide immediate assistance
to the poor and needy people of Africa? What is the policy of
President Obama's administration with regard to the observation of
elections in Africa? Will President Obama's administration pursue
the AGOA program?
2. DATE: May 19, 2009 - Third quarter 2009.
3. JUSTIFICATION / OBJECTIVE:
The election of Barack Obama as the first African-American President
of the United States generated a lot interest and hope in Benin. In
Africa in general and in Benin in particular, people sincerely
believe that President Barack Obama will bring change to Africa,
that he will change their future prospects and impact the relations
between the U.S. and Africa at the political and economic levels.
Thus, the purpose of Benin's participation in this program was to
make an assessment of what the new President was able to achieve in
100 days, and to examine if president Obama's first hundred days in
the White House justifies the hope he has fostered.
4. MPP UMBRELLA THEME AND AUDIENCE REACHED:
Bolstering Democracy and Combating Corruption. 25 guests attended
this program, including faculty members, members of the civil
society, political activists, members of the AGOA committee, private
media owners, journalists, members of President Barack Obama's local
support committee, the Ambassador of the United States to Benin and
the Deputy Chief of Mission.
5. RESULT/IMPACT: Excellent
This DVC program provided an opportunity to learn about the
accomplishments of President Barack Obama during his first 100 days
in office. According to Morris, despite his election during a period
of war and world financial crisis, President Barack Obama took a
number of measures and initiatives that constitute a source of hope
and optimism for the international community. These initiatives
include his plan for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq, a
rescue plan to fight the world financial crisis, talks with the
Latin American countries, immigration reforms, reinforcing
humanitarian laws both in the United States and abroad, restoration
of dialogue with the Muslim community, finding a sustainable
solution to the Middle-East issue, the pursuit of the war against
terror, and most importantly, the appointment of an experienced
African-American as Deputy Secretary of State for African Affairs.
During her presentation following the program, Ambassador Gayleatha
B. Brown answered questions and informed the audience that President
Barack Obama is scheduled to make a major speech about his
administration's policy towards Africa during his July 10 through
July 11 visit to Ghana.
6. NON-USG SOURCES OF IN-COUNTRY FUNDING / IN KIND SUPPORT: None.
7. QUALITY OF U.S. SUPPORT AND OFFICE: Excellent.
Kudos to ARS Paris for recruiting such a knowledgeable speaker to
address this topic. Professor Morris' presentation was accurate and
he provided clear and understandable answers to our guests. Post
experienced no major technical difficulties during the program,
except that there was a lag time delay between when the Speaker
started to speak and when we actually heard the words.
Rawlings
DEPARTMENT FOR AF/PD (ANYASO, TITUS, LISENBY),AF/W (ACOOK)
AMEMBASSY PARIS FOR ARS (COWHER)
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KDEM KPAO BN
SUBJECT: COTONOU GPRA REPORT ON THE DVC "PRESIDENT OBAMA'S FIRST 100
DAYS"
1. DESCRIPTION OF ACTIVITY:
On May 19, PAS Cotonou hosted a Digital Video Conference program
entitled "President Barack Obama's First 100 days." The program
began with opening remarks from PAO Rhonda Watson, followed by
Africa Regional Services (ARS) Deputy Director Linda Cowher's
welcome remarks and introduction of the Speaker, Dr. Lorenzo Morris.
After Morris' 20-minute presentation, guests participated actively
by asking several questions, including the following: What will be
the U.S. policy towards Africa during President Barack Obama's
administration? What is President Obama's plan to promote
development in Africa? What can the Beninese youth do to achieve
change in Benin like President Obama is doing in the United States?
What can the Obama administration do to provide immediate assistance
to the poor and needy people of Africa? What is the policy of
President Obama's administration with regard to the observation of
elections in Africa? Will President Obama's administration pursue
the AGOA program?
2. DATE: May 19, 2009 - Third quarter 2009.
3. JUSTIFICATION / OBJECTIVE:
The election of Barack Obama as the first African-American President
of the United States generated a lot interest and hope in Benin. In
Africa in general and in Benin in particular, people sincerely
believe that President Barack Obama will bring change to Africa,
that he will change their future prospects and impact the relations
between the U.S. and Africa at the political and economic levels.
Thus, the purpose of Benin's participation in this program was to
make an assessment of what the new President was able to achieve in
100 days, and to examine if president Obama's first hundred days in
the White House justifies the hope he has fostered.
4. MPP UMBRELLA THEME AND AUDIENCE REACHED:
Bolstering Democracy and Combating Corruption. 25 guests attended
this program, including faculty members, members of the civil
society, political activists, members of the AGOA committee, private
media owners, journalists, members of President Barack Obama's local
support committee, the Ambassador of the United States to Benin and
the Deputy Chief of Mission.
5. RESULT/IMPACT: Excellent
This DVC program provided an opportunity to learn about the
accomplishments of President Barack Obama during his first 100 days
in office. According to Morris, despite his election during a period
of war and world financial crisis, President Barack Obama took a
number of measures and initiatives that constitute a source of hope
and optimism for the international community. These initiatives
include his plan for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq, a
rescue plan to fight the world financial crisis, talks with the
Latin American countries, immigration reforms, reinforcing
humanitarian laws both in the United States and abroad, restoration
of dialogue with the Muslim community, finding a sustainable
solution to the Middle-East issue, the pursuit of the war against
terror, and most importantly, the appointment of an experienced
African-American as Deputy Secretary of State for African Affairs.
During her presentation following the program, Ambassador Gayleatha
B. Brown answered questions and informed the audience that President
Barack Obama is scheduled to make a major speech about his
administration's policy towards Africa during his July 10 through
July 11 visit to Ghana.
6. NON-USG SOURCES OF IN-COUNTRY FUNDING / IN KIND SUPPORT: None.
7. QUALITY OF U.S. SUPPORT AND OFFICE: Excellent.
Kudos to ARS Paris for recruiting such a knowledgeable speaker to
address this topic. Professor Morris' presentation was accurate and
he provided clear and understandable answers to our guests. Post
experienced no major technical difficulties during the program,
except that there was a lag time delay between when the Speaker
started to speak and when we actually heard the words.
Rawlings