BENIN: AMBASSADOR BROWN LEAVES ON A HIGH NOTE

UNCLAS COTONOU 000374


DEPT FOR AF/AS Carson, AF/W MBLEONARD/RSCOTT, AF/E JKNIGHT,
LONDON FOR PETER LORD
PARIS FOR BKANEDA
OUAGADOUGOU FOR SLAEUCHLI
DEPARTMENT PLEASE PASS TO PEACE CORPS, USAID, MCC

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL EAID ECON ETRD PGOV SOCI PHUM MASS EWWT BN
SUBJECT: BENIN: AMBASSADOR BROWN LEAVES ON A HIGH NOTE


1. Ambassador Brown departs post on August 22, 2009, leaving a
legacy of a stronger bilateral relationship and increased visibility
of the US Mission in Benin. Supported by a strong Country Team,
American and LES staff, under her leadership the Mission agencies
(USAID, MCC, Peace Corps, and the State Department and US-based
others) partnered with public and private sector interlocutors to
promote development, economic growth, education, health, human
rights notably for women and girls - often victims of gender-based
violence and abuse, democracy, and regional peace. The Mission
promoted mutual understanding via a revitalized countrywide public
diplomacy outreach program, including over 180 speeches that she
gave herself. All USG programs stressed transparency,
accountability and anti-corruption.


2. Ambassador Brown hosted the first-ever visit of a sitting US
President to Benin and signed agreements for the Presidential
Malaria Initiative (PMI) and Women's Justice and Empowerment
Initiative (WJEI). During her tenure, 400 US Marines took part in a
joint exercise at the Beninese Training center for peacekeeping
operations in Bembereke capping off three years of increasingly
close military cooperation. Working with President Boni Yayi and
key ministers and backed by excellent Mission staff and OBO, she
also identified and negotiated land in Cotonou's security zone, near
the Presidency, CMR, American Cultural Center, the Port of Cotonou
and Cotonou International Airport, for construction of a new embassy
compound. Hand-over of the check for full payment of public and
private land on the site is expected by the end of August or sooner
if the land is completely cleared. On Tuesday, August 18 at the
Chief of Mission Residence, the Foreign Minister (ForMin) told the
Ambassador to expect a cleared site by the week of August 24. At
the behest of President Yayi who wished to meet with her before she
left definitively, the ForMin also urged the Ambassador to change
her departure from Friday, August 21, to Saturday, August 22, via
Lome by road (under escort) for connection to an Air France flight
to Paris that evening and an onward flight to Dulles.


3. As the Ambassador prepared to leave post, USG achievements under
her leadership were heralded in many sectors. On August 19, she was
awarded the National Order of Merit (Commander) by Dr. Koubourath
Osseni, Chancellor of the Benin National Order in the presence of
four ministers: Jean-Marie Ehouzou (Foreign Affairs); Reckya
Madougou (Microfinance); Desire Adadja (Communications); and Zachari
Baba Bodi (Institutional Relations). Heart-felt send-offs were
given also by the diplomatic corps, the Mission, the LES employees
who composed a song and performed it for the Ambassador, and
academia, notably via a poem in her honor by a leading Beninese
scholar entitled "a star leaves our sky."


4. The Foreign Minister's speech at the August 19 decoration
ceremony and an earlier one by a stand-in for the Dean of the
Diplomatic Corps (the Cuban Ambassador who was reportedly ill at the
time) summarized key Mission accomplishments under her leadership,
which the press reported as follows:

US MISSION ACHIEVEMENTS DURING AMBASSADOR GAYLEATHA B. BROWN'S TOUR
SEPTEMBER 2006 TO AUGUST 2009

- Partnership Agreement to support basic education and family health
reforms in Benin
- Launching of the Millennium Challenge Account Program
- Acquisition of land for the New Embassy Compound (NEC)
- First Visit of US President to Benin

INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAM
- Support to the Education for All Program
- Celebration of the International Education Week
- Donation of books to the Martin Luther King College
- Ambassador's Girls Program for School
- Employment Creation Seminar for young people, as part of Dr.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Celebration
- Donation to girl valedictorians in Kpomasse

HEALTH PROGRAM
- President's Malaria Initiative (PMI)
- Donation of chemically treated mosquito nets
- Donation of medical equipment and supplies to the National
Training Hospital
- Donation of anti-malaria products
- Donation of veterinarian equipment to prevent possible avian flu
- Donation of microscope kits
- Inauguration of 2 modules of latrines of 6 cabins each as well as
clean water at the Djeffa School Complex
- Inauguration of health centers in Avlame
- Inauguration of renovated health centers in Doyissa

MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORPORATION/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE ACCOUNT-BENIN
- Modernization and extension of the Cotonou Port Authority - major

contracts launched
- Improvement of the land titling system, access to land
- Reinforcement of access to microcredit
- Proposed construction of eight (8) buildings for regional courts

MARITIME PROTECTION AND SECURITY
- Improvement of the competitiveness of the Port of Cotonou
- Prevention of the ISPS downgrading of the Port of Cotonou

PROMOTION OF WOMEN'S STATUS
- Official launching of the Women's Justice and Empowerment
Initiative (WJEI)
- Awareness raising of Women's Rights and Genital Mutilation
- Conference on the elimination of gender-based violence
- Launching of Judges' training on judicial interpretation of
medico-legal proof in cases of violence against women
- Strengthening of the judicial system

MILITARY COOOPERATION PROGRAM
- Medical Training and Assistance Program (MEDFLAG)
- US Naval Forces and US Coast Guard Ship visits
- Military equipment and training as part of the Africa Contingency
Assistance and Training Program (ACOTA)
- Defense Institute of International Legal Studies (DIILS) seminars
- The Africa Center for Strategic Studies (ACSS) seminars
- The installation of the National Maritime Protection, Security and
Safety Council as well as its Technical Committee after a USG
request during a November 2006 maritime security and awareness
conference hosted by DOD and the Government of Benin in Cotonou
- The Shared Accord Doumagnore 2009 Excercise
- The visits of the Ministry of State in Charge of National Defense
and other Beninese Military officials to the US and to AFRICOM
- The installation of Automated Identification Systems (AIS) at the
Navy Command and at the Naval Base Command
- The Beninese Navy officers' participation in the Africa
Partnership Station (APS) Ship riders' program
- The participation of Beninese military communications and
intelligence technicians in the Africa Endeavor Program
- The donation of two (2) 4X4 vehicles and one ambulance to the
Beninese Armed Forces as part of the African Contingency Operations
Training and Assistance (ACOTA) program
- The donation of two (2) defender boats to the Beninese Navy,
expected to arrive on September 2009.

ECONOMIC GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT
- Forum on how to promote commercial relationships between Benin and
the United States of America
- Communication and conferences on the Africa Growth and Opportunity
Act (AGOA)
- Seminar on Women's Empowerment and Development
- Doing Business in America Seminar with USAID Trade Hub (Accra) and
USFCS (Dakar)
- Successful advocacy for the US firm CAI's Construction of a power
plant
- Women in Business lecture series

SELF HELP PROGRAM
- Micro projects related to the promotion of Human Rights,
democracy, fight against child abuse and child trafficking, female
genital mutilation, and ritual child killing
- Inauguration of a module of 3 dormitories in Sakete
- Signing of an agreement for the construction of modules of
classrooms in Kerou, Copargo, Djougou, Dassa-Zoume, Savalou and
Agame

PROMOTION Of CULTURE AND MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING
Programs presented by US Speakers:
- History of the African Diaspora
- The Harlem Renaissance
- The Importance of Girls Education
- Democracy and Good Governance
- Elections in the United States of America
- Women's Leadership, Women in Politics
- Gender-Based Violence

MUSLIM COMMUNITIES ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
- Dialogue with the Muslim Community
- Conference Program on Islam in the United States of America,
presented by Imam Bakhach
- Scholarships for Muslim Students

PROMOTION OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE
- Refresher training for English Teachers
- Micro-scholarship Access program to study English
- Contest on the best Imitator of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
(reenactment of the famous "I have a Dream" speech)
- Post sponsored English language classes for employees-Town Hall on
road safety

HEALTH AND SAFETY CAMPAIGN AT HOME, WORK AND ON THE ROAD
- Mission-wide arts and drama competition for safety message
- Ambassador's demarches to Government of Benin President and
relevant Ministers and National Road Safety Center on vehicular
safety and inspection, speeding, necessity for helmet wearing on
motorcycle taxis
- Seminars conducted by national social security and health
officials
- Training by SHEM officials from Washington


5. In her farewell presentations, notably at the Foreign Ministry,
the Ambassador stressed the importance of security for Peace Corps
Volunteers (PCV) in Benin, paying tribute to the Government of Benin
and the Embassy of France for steadfast support and assistance to
USG agencies in the investigation of the March 2009 murder of PCV
Catherine Puzey. She reported the US Senators' expressions of
appreciation during her confirmation hearing for this support and
encouraged the government and people of Benin to ensure that justice
is done in this case.


BROWN