MEDIA REACTION: ANGOLAN CIVIL SOCIETY AND US AMBASSADOR

UNCLAS LUANDA 000362 FOR INR/MR, INFO AF/PD (CLAUDIA ANYASO, DAN WHITMAN, PATRICIA EHRNMAN) AF/S (Maya Harris) E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OIIP PGOV AO SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: ANGOLAN CIVIL SOCIETY AND US AMBASSADOR DISCUSS THE NEW ERA OF THE BILATERAL RELATIONS BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES AS A FOLLOW UP TO THE MEETING BETWEEN MINISTER ASSUNGCO DOS ANJOS AND SECRETARY HILLARY CLINTON ¶1. Angolan Government-run radio station, Rdio Nacional de Angola, on its June 6th two-and-a-half hour debate show "Tendncias e debates" held a roundtable discussion under the topic, "The New Era of the Angolan and US Bilateral Relations." The roundtable, which was broadcast live to the entire country (about 14 million listeners),included the US Ambassador to Angola, Dan Mozena, Angolan Ambassador to the US, Josefina Diakit (participated over the phone from Washington D.C.),the Angolan Executive Director of the US-Angolan Chamber of Commerce, Francisco da Cruz, Professors of International Relations Professors Dr. Donato Biavanga and Dr. Belarmino Van-Dnem, and one of the most influential Angolan Businessmen, Artur Almeida e Silva. The following are excerpts from the discussion taken from a Portuguese transcription by the Public Diplomacy section of Embassy Luanda. ¶2. Ambassador Mozena(speaking in Portuguese)"in my opinion, the relations between Angola and the United States are very good. They are very strong after the minister's visit to Washington last month. These relations are getting better. That visit started a process that will further strengthen these relations. I think that the most important result of the visit to Washington was that the Minister and the Secretary agreed that Angola and the US have the same objectives in Southern and Central Africa and in the entire continent (of Africa). They agreed that we are partners. They agreed that we have to create a strategic partnership and for this we need to strengthen and deepen our relations. In this context, the Secretary and the Minister discussed the idea of establishing a mechanism for dialogue and study that will link the United States and Angola. This is very important. There were other important things discussed too. The Minister signed a bilateral agreement between Angola and the United States: A Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA). Under this agreement, we will establish a bilateral council dealing with commerce and investments. In my opinion, this council will be very, very important. Under this, we will discuss the obstacles that hinder commerce and investments between Angola and the United States. ...The Minister also met with the USAID Administrator. They talked about our HIV/AIDS program here in Angola. We will increase our program funding to fight malaria from 18.7 million to 32.5 million US dollars. This is a big increase for our assistance. In general, the visit of the Minister was very important for us and for our relations...." ¶3. Angolan University Professor Donato Biavanga: "Actually, the relations between Angola and the United States deserve a deep analysis because since the beginning they had a singularity. This singularity is based on the fact that after the independence of Angola, the United States was the major commercial partner of Angola. However, there was a paradox in these relations. This paradox is based on the fact that the US was the major commercial partner of Angola in the economic field, but there was a political difference that delayed Washington's recognition of Angola for 18 years. Along the course of these relations, of course, there were highs and lows that both states were always able to control, always with mutual respect, and always on a reciprocal basis. In fact, we are now living a new era in the relationship between Angola and the United States, mainly after the visit of the (Angolan) External Relations Minister to the US. There was a great sense of responsibility on both sides, the United States and Angola, to define the course of these relations." ¶4. Angolan businessman Artur Almeida e Silva: "Since the independence of Angola, I always had a very close relationship with the United States. In my capacity as President of the Angolan Association of Young Businessmen I want say that the US always played a major role through other organizations. I think that in this new era of relations between Angola and the United States certain aspects should considered. These aspects, I believe, have never been taken into account through the years that led to the recognition of Angola by the US. The relations were oil-focused. I guess that now it's time to propose to the US actions in several other sectors of our economy. Of course, the US plays an important role in social assistance. Some of USAID's programs in terms of prosperity are wide-reaching in our society. However in terms of economic relations, it is very oil-focused. I believe that the US, for its level of industrial and technological development, can offer a lot to Angola. We are the ones to identify our needs and propose an agreement to the US that will allow for investments in various sectors, such as industry, agriculture, and agribusiness because the US has a lot to give to Angola. I think it's time to propose to the US very concrete actions in these areas that should be dealt with on a partnership basis between Angolan and US business people and between the two states. In my opinion, there is a huge deficit in these relations because they are too political and business is involved very little. I can give examples: The visits abroad, I'm not saying on the side of the US because they have the US-Angola Chamber of Commerce that plays a very important role. There is a series of trade missions from the US to Angola but there are very few from Angola to the US. We must go (to the US) to get experience, know-how, and technology to bring back to Angola. I believe there is an excessive political character in these economic relations that should end. ... Our government should give incentive and create favorable conditions so that these partnerships are effective and the business sector can feel this dynamism." ¶5. University Professor Belarmino Van-Dnem: "After the 1990's, US interventions on the African continent aimed at strengthening the states, sustainable development, humanitarian assistance, construction, strengthening of democracy, and promotion of peace. The US had great involvement- I can even state that it was almost without any regard to its foreign policy - for example to restore hope in Somalia where it actually bore sacrifices. With the Angolan government, the US also took the same stand, giving development assistance in the fight against HIV-AIDS in the Angolan Armed Forces, strengthening democracy, and supporting civil society organizations. Now, we are seeing the turning of a new page. The US and particularly his Excellency the US Ambassador is working hard to create a new dynamic. The US is at this moment in a phase of cooperation- bilateral cooperation. Angola is also part of various US aid programs on the continent. Such as AGOA, etc, etc, etc. The truth is that these programs are not helping American investors. Many of them tried to come to Angola to explore the market but they found it difficult to work in our country. I may also point out the need for credit: a specific credit line which fits into the factual, structural, institutional or constitutional situation of Angola so that Americans can come to our country to collaborate, because there is already a good political climate here." ¶6. US-Angolan Chamber of Commerce Executive Director, Francisco da Cruz stated "I would like to begin by saying that the US vis-a-vis Angola was both part of the war and part of the peace process. We were able to reach peace because the US played an important mediation role. ...I believe that His Excellency Assungco dos Anjos' visit to Washington was an important step, and the meeting with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton marked a new phase in our relations. The creation of this bilateral mechanism for economic and investments will certainly provide opportunities to strengthen our cooperation. In this spirit, the US-Angola Chamber of Commerce organized a seminar last month to analyze ways to support the diversification of the Angolan economy. Doctor Belarmino Van-Dnem also focused on the need for financing so that cooperation may be improved. He Said "I want to remind you that the US Export Import Bank has approved a credit line of 120 million dollars to allow Angolan companies to acquire goods and services from the United States. On June 17th, officials from the Exim-Bank will be in Luanda for a seminar that will involve Angolan business and Banks that were selected within this program. They will discuss practical ways Angolans can access Export Import Bank funding. Just as the US Ambassador has been underlining, this is just an initial amount. It can be increased if the Angolans have the capacity to finish this first loan." ¶6. Angolan Ambassador to the US Josefina Diakit: "This is absolutely a new era in US-Angola bilateral relations. ...I would like to say that this new era has arrived in the context of the bilateral cooperation between the United States and Angola. Let's start with TIFA, which will open a huge window in bilateral relations for deepening collaboration between institutions (of both countries) that are active in trade...and production. On the other hand, in the perspective of the Bilateral Joint Council, we will improve relations to a level in which we seek to establish a strategic partnership and I believe we have made the first steps towards that." Hawkins