ADDRESS BY MR. LEONARD H. ROBINSON, JR. PRESIDENT AND CEO THE NATIONAL SUMMIT ON AFRICA

BEFORE THE AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT FORUM,
ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR AFRICA
MONDAY, OCTOBER 25,1999 -- ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA

GOOD MORNING -- ESTEEMED HOSTS, EXCELLENCIES, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. AT THE OUTSET, I WISH TO HIGHLY COMMEND THE ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR AFRICA AND ITS LEADERSHIP, SPEARHEADED BY DR. KY. AMOAKO, FOR CONCEIVING AND IMPLEMENTING THIS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT AND TIMELY FORUM ON GLOBILIZATION, THE INFORMATION EXPLOSION DRIVEN BY THE INTERNET, AND IT9S CONSEQUENT IMPACT ON THE CHALLENGES OF AFRICA'S ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO EXTEND SPECIAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT TO HIS EXCELLENCY, MELES ZENAWI, THE PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF ETHIOPIA; TO SALIM AHMED SALIM, THE SECRETARY- GENERAL OF THE ORGANIZATION OF AFRICAN UNITY; AND, TO OMAR KABBAJ, PRESIDENT OF THE AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK.

IN THE PAST DECADE, MANY AFRICAN NATIONS HAVE MADE IMPRESSIVE STRIDES TO EMBRACE AND IMPLEMENT MORE OPEN DEMOCRATIC SOCIETIES -- CHARACTERIZED BY GOOD GOVERNANCE, INCLUDING ACCOUNTABILITY, TRANSPARENCY AND CITIZEN PARTICIPATION. AT THE SAME TIME, ECONOMIC REFORMS ARE BEING INTRODUCED TO INSTITUTE MARKET ECONOMIES TO SPUR GROWTH AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR PRIVATE SECTOR DRIVEN DEVELOPMENT. THE ECA, AS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE UNITED NATIONS -- ALONG WITH UNDP -- HAS PLAYED A VITAL ROLE IN HELPING TO FOSTER AND SUPPORT THESE DYNAMICS -- AND MUST BE APPLAUDED FOR ITS COMMITMENT. WHILE THE RESULTS HAVE NOT BEEN FLAWLESS -- POSITIVE INDICATORS ARE CLEARLY EVIDENT AS DEMONSTRATED BY THE ECONOMIES OF BOTSWANA, GHANA, UGANDA AND MOZAMBIQUE -- AMONG THE FASTEST GROWING IN THE WORLD. THERE CAN BE NO DOUBT THAT A CORNER IS BEING TURNED -- AND THAT AFRICA IS HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

INDEED, THE CONTINENT IS POISED TO TAKE OFF -- IF ENLIGHTENED, MATURE AND VISIONARY LEADERS CONTINUE TO EMERGE WITH CONSISTENCY. AS THIS NEW ERA IN AFRICA'S DEVELOPMENT MOVES FORWARD, IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT THIS PROGRESS BE SUPPORTED AND ASSISTED BY MEANINGFUL AND APPROPRIATE PARTNERSHIPS WITH OTHER NATIONS, ESPECIALLY THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

THE NATIONAL SUMMIT ON AFRICA, ESTABLISHED IN 1997, IS A PRIVATELY FUNDED, NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION HEADQUARTERED IN WASHINGTON. IT IS A GROWING NATION-WIDE POLITICAL POLICY MOVEMENT -- WHICH HAS THE POTENTIAL TO CHANGE AND ADVANCE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND THE COUNTRIES OF AFRICA -- THROUGH ENHANCED, MUTUAL RESPECT, DIGNITY AND PARTNERSHIP. THE SUMMIT'S MISSION AND OBJECTIVES WERE CLEAR FROM THE BEGINNING: TO ACTIVELY INVOLVE ALL AMERICANS AND AFRICANS RESIDING IN THE U.S. -- IN AN UNPRECEDENTED AND HISTORIC PUBLIC PROCESS TO EDUCATE AMERICANS ABOUT THE CONTINENT AND TO PRODUCE A NATIONAL POLICY PLAN OF ACTION, A BLUE PRINT, ON WHAT U.S. POLICY TOWARDS AFRICA SHOULD BE IN THE NEXT MILLENNIUM. THE SUMMIT'S MOTTO IS SIMPLE, YET POWERFUL IN ITS THRUST: IT IS THAT AFRICA MATTERS! AND THAT IT SHOULD CONSISTENTLY MATTER IN THE FORMULATION AND EQUITABLE APPLICATION OF U.S. FOREIGN POLICY -- RELATIVE TO REQUIREMENTS FOR HUMANITARIAN SUPPORT, REFUGEE RELIEF AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION IN SITUATIONS LIKE BOSNIA-HERZEGOVENA, KOSOVO AND EAST TIMOR! WE REMAIN MORALLY OUTRAGED BY THE DOUBLE STANDARD AND INACTION DEMONSTRATED BY OUR POLICY MAKERS VIZ RWANDA AND MOST RECENTLY -- IN THE SIERRA LEONE CRISIS!

THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE SUMMIT MOVEMENT AND PROCESS WAS ESSENTIAL. THE AMERICAN PUBLIC AND SENIOR POLICYMAKERS ARE FED A STEADY, PERSISTENT DIET OF DISTORTED AND INACCURATE IMAGES ABOUT AFRICA -- ESPECIALLY BY THE AMERICAN MEDIA. THE CONTINENT IS VIRTUALLY IGNORED OR RIDICULED. THE OPERATIVE CHARACTERIZATION: THE GLASS IS HALF EMPTY -- NOT HALF FULL! (CITE THE WASHINGTON POST WORLD VIEW DAILY SECTION!) AS A RESULT, MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AND POLICY MAKERS ARE OFTEN RELUCTANT TO ACT FAVORABLY UPON AFRICA RELATED PRIORITIES. THIS DYNAMIC ALSO FUELS THE LACK OF PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR THE CONTINENT.

SINCE THE END OF THE COLD WAR, OVERALL OFFICIAL U.S. ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE TO AFRICA HAS DECLINED PRECIPITOUSLY. JUST A FEW DAYS AGO IN KENYA, SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT PASSIONATELY DENOUNCED CONGRESS'RECENT DECISION TO SLASH OFFICIAL U.S. ASSISTANCE. LIKEWISE, EFFORTS PASS THE AFRICA GROWTH AND OPPORTUNITY ACT -- AN UNPRECEDENTED BILL TO ACCELERATE TRADE AND INVESTMENT WITH AFRICA -- HAVE NOT BEEN REALIZED IN OVER TWO YEARS. EVEN THE EXTRAORDINARY AND FIRST-EVER MINISTERIAL MEETING HELD IN WASHINGTON THIS PAST MARCH WITH PRESIDENT CLINTON'S SENIOR POLICY MAKERS -- FAILED TO GENERATE ANY NOTABLE MEDIA COVERAGE! THE NATIONAL SUMMIT ON AFRICA IS DETERMINED TO CORRECT THIS STATE OF AFFAIRS AS IT RELATES TO THE CONTINENT'S PROFILE THROUGHOUT AMERICA.

IN 1997, THE NATIONAL SUMMIT COMMISSIONED A NATION-WIDE SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF AMERICAN ATTITUDES ABOUT AFRICA. IT WAS CONDUCTED BY A HIGHLY REPUTABLE NATIONAL SURVEY AND POLLING FIRM. AMONG THE FINDINGS IT WAS NOTED THAT WHILE MOST AMERICANS ARE WOEFULLY IGNORANT ABOUT AFRICA, OVER 70-PERCENT OF THOSE SURVEYED WANTED TO KNOW MORE ABOUT AFRICA -- AND ESPECIALLY FOR THEIR SCHOOL AGED CHILDREN. AND, WHEN ASKED TO NAME THEIR MOST RESPECTED WORLD LEADER, AMERICANS OVERWHELMINGLY CITED AN AFRICAN: -- NELSON MANDELA!

TO MANY OF US, THESE RESULTS WERE MORE THAN ENCOURAGING: THEY WERE ASTONISHING RELATIVE TO AFRICA'S MEDIA DRIVEN IMAGE. WE RIGHTLY CONCLUDED THAT THERE WAS A RESEVOIR OF INTEREST AND SUPPORT FOR AFRICA THAT NEEDED TO BE NURTURED AND ENERGIZED -- AMONG ALL AMERICANS -- REGARDLES OF ETHNIC PERSUASION.

FROM MAY OF LAST YEAR THROUGH THE END OF THIS SEPTEMBER -- JUST LAST MONTH -- THE NATIONAL SUMMIT ON AFRICA CONDUCTED A SERIES OF SIX REGIONAL SUMMITS ON AFRICA AND TWO POLICY FORUMS. HELD IN ATLANTA, CHICAGO, SAN FRANCISCO, BOSTON, BALTIMORE, DENVER, LOS ANGELES AND NORMAN, OKLAHOMA, OVER 10,000 AMERICANS AND AFRICANS PARTICIPATED. ORGANIZED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH INSTITUTIONS LIKE GOODWORKS INTERNATIONAL - THE FIRM OF AMBASSADOR ANDREW YOUNG -- THE FAMOUS CHICAGO FIELD MUSEUM, THE WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, THE AFRICA-AMERICA INSTITUTE AND CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES, AS WELL AS THE UNIVERSITY OF DENVER -- THE SUMMITS PROVIDED INFORMATION/EDCUATION INPUTS ABOUT AFRICA. AND, THROUGH OUR DELIBERATIVE POLICY PROCESS CENTERED AROUND THE SUMMIT'S 5 THEMATIC ISSUES: PEACE AND SECURITY, DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN RIGHTS, EDUCATION AND CULTURE, SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, AND, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT -- FORMULATED, PRODUCED AND APPROVED 6 PLANS OF ACTION ON U.S. - AFRICA FOREIGN POLICY RELATIONS.

PEOPLE REPRESENTING THE BROAD MOSAIC OF AMERICAN SOCIETY - FROM ORDINARY, GRASS-ROOT INDIVIDUALS TO NGO REPRESENTATIVES, BUSINESS PEOPLE, AND ACADEMICIANS -- AND SIGNIFICANT ATTENDANCE FROM THE IMMIGRANT AFRICAN POPULATION -- AGGRESSIVELY PARTICIPATED. THESE WERE NOT ORDINARY CONFERENCES. PARTICIPANTS OFTEN DEBATED LATE INTO THE NIGHT AND EARLY MORNING. THEIR EXCITEMENT AND ENTHUSIASM FOR THE REGIONAL SUMMIT OBJECTIVES NEVER DIMINISHED.

THIS EXPANDED CONSTITUENCY FOR AFRICA IS ENERGIZED ABOUT MAKING A CHANGE IN U.S. FOREIGN POLICY TOWARDS AFRICA. IT INCLUDES MEMBERS OF NGOS, CORPORATIONS, BOTH LARGE AND SMALL. THEY ARE STUDENTS, HOUSEWIVES, CLERGY, DOCTORS, PROFESSORS, FORMER PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEERS -- ESPECIALLY AMONG THE 58,000 WHO SERVED IN AFRICA -- AND DIPLOMATS, COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS. THEY LIVE IN LARGE CITIES AND SMALL TOWNS, WHICH RANGE FROM THE STATES OF HAWAII TO MAINE. THEY REPRESENT THE FRUIT OF THE FIRST-EVER SUSTAINED, GRASS ROOTS POLICY PROCESS FOR ANY REGION OF THE WORLD, IN THE HISTORY OF AMERICA. AND, IT WAS THE SUBJECT OF AFRICA THAT BROUGHT THEM TOGETHER.

THEY ARE ALSO POISED TO BECOME NEW AND ACTIVE ADVOCATES FOR THE CONTINENT. AND THEY WILL INCREASINGLY REPRESENT A CRITICAL MASS -- A POWER BLOCK OF VOTERS AND ACTIVISTS -- THE FUNDAMENTAL CORNERSTONE OF POLITICAL LEVERAGE ON WHICH THE AMERICAN POLITICAL SYSTEM FUNCTIONS. I PREDICT THAT THIS EMERGING INFRASTRUCE WILL BE RELIABLE AND EFFECTIVE, WILL BE MOBILIZED TO SPRING INTO ACTION IN SUPPORT OF AFRICA- RELATED ISSUES, WHENEVER AND WHEREEVER REQUIRED.

FROM FEBRUARY 16 THROUGH THE 20,2000, AT THE WASHINGTON CONVENTION CENTER -- IN AMERICA'S CAPITAL CITY -- THE GRAND NATIONAL SUMMIT EVENT, ENTITLED "DIALOGUE AND CELEBRATION OF AFRICA - AFRICA AND AMERICA: PARTNERS IN THE NEW MILLENNIUM," WILL BE HELD FOR OVER 6,000 PARTICIPANTS FROM ACROSS AMERICA AND AFRICA. WORKING WITH A NATIONAL DRAFT PLAN, DERIVED FROM THE AMALAGAMATION OF THE SIX APPROVED REGIONAL SUMMIT PLANS, ABOUT 2,300 ELECTED AND AT-LARGE DELEGATES, REPRESENTING EACH STATE IN THE U.S., WILL FINALIZE AND APPROVE A NATIONAL PLAN OF ACTION FOR U.S. - AFRICA RELATIONS FOR THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY. FOLLOWING PUBLICATION, THE PLAN WILL BE DISTRIBUTED TO EVERY MEMBER OF THE U.S. SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; THE WHITE HOUSE, DEPARTMENT OF STATE AND NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL; TO EVERY STATE GOVERNOR, MOST MAYORS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY; AND, TO A CROSS-SECTION OF NGO, CIVIC, SOCIAL, RELIGIOUS, CORPORATE, BUSINESS, ETC., LEADERS THROUGHOUT AMERICA.

EXCELLENCIES, DISTINGUISHED PARTICIPANTS, I TRUST THAT I HAVE CONVEYED THE SENSE THAT THIS IS A DEADLY SERIOUS PROCESS AND MOVEMENT. THIS PLAN WILL BE THE PEOPLE'S MANIFESTO AND WILL BE USED TO IMPLEMENT ACTIONS AND POLICIES FOR AFRICA AT THE NATIONAL, STATE, MUNICIPAL AND PRIVATE SECTOR LEVELS -- THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES.

THE NATIONAL SUMMIT EVENT IN FEBRUARY WILL SHOWCASE AFRICA AND AFRICANS AS NEVER BEFORE IN AMERICA. THE INTENT IS TO PRODUCE AN AWE-INSPIRING PORTRAINT OF A PROUD CONTINENT, WITH A RICH HISTORY AND CULTURES, WORKING TO REALIZE ITS FULL POTENTIAL. WE PLAN TO FEATURE AFRICAN HEREOES AND HEROINES -- THOSE WHO HAVE MADE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE WORLD -- SUCH AS THE MALIAN-BORN ASTRO-PHYSICIST WHO DESIGNED THE SOJOURNER SPACE PROBE OF MARS 3-4 YEARS AGO. AFRICAN NGO AND PRIVATE SECTOR LEADERSIREPRESENTATIVES ARE ENTHUSIASTICALLY INVITED AND ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND AS OBSERVERS, AS WELL AS HEADS OF STATE AND THEIR MINISTERS. WE ALSO HOPE THAT GOVERNMENTS IN COLLABORATION WITH CIVIL SOCIETY WILL ACCEPT THE SUMMIT'S INVITATION TO PARTICIPATE IN THE AFRICA EXPOSITION TO SHOWCASE THE BEST YOUR COUNTRIES HAVE TO OFFER IN TERMS OF CAPABILITIES, HISTORICAL SITES/POINTS OF INTERESTS, ARTS AND CULTURE, BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES, NATURAL RESOURCES, AND TOURIST ATTRACTIONS.

WE HAVE CRAFTED A STRATEGY DESIGNED TO COMPEL THE MEDIA TO COVER THE NATIONAL SUMMIT FROM START TO FINISH, SO THAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, FOR THE FIRST TIME, WILL OBSERVE IMPORTANT AFRICAN AND AMERICAN OFFICIALS AND POLICY MAKERS, AS WELL AS PRIVATE SECTOR LEADERSIREPRESENTATIVES, TALK ABOUT AFRICA ON NATIONAL TELEVISION, AS WELL AS TO CONDUCT INTERVIEWS AND MEDIA SESSIONS WITH NATIONALLY SYNDICATED JOURNALISTS AND REPORTERS. WE FULLY EXPECT THE SERIOUS INVOLVEMENT OF PRESIDENT CLINTON AND HIS SENIOR ADVISORS ON AFRICA AND NATIONAL SECURITY, ESPECIALLY SINCE THE SUMMIT IS JUST A FEW WEEKS AHEAD OF THE FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF THE HISTORIC MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE HELD THIS PAST MARCH.

THERE WILL BE A CANDLE LIGHT MARCH FROM THE WHITE HOUSE TO THE CAPITOL BUILDING IN HONOR AND CELEBRATION OF AFRICA - ORGANIZED AND LEAD BY REVEREND JESSE JACKSON, ONE OF THE SUMMIT'S NATIONAL CO-CHAIRS. MOST IMPORTANT, THERE WILL BE A PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES FORUM, SO THAT GORE, BRADLEY, BUSH AND THE OTHER CANDIDATES WHO MAY STILL BE IN THE PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN, CAN EXPLAIN TO THE AUDIENCE WHAT THEIR ADMINISTRATION'S POLICY TOWARD AFRICA WILL BE -- IF ELECTED PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES! THIS TYPE OF FORUM HAS NEVER BEEN HELD IN AN AMERICAN PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN! AND AMBASSADOR ANDREW YOUNG, THE HONORARY CHAIRMAN OF THE NATIONAL SUMMIT ON AFRICA EVENT, WILL ANNOUNCE AT THE OFFICIAL BANQUET -- PLANS FOR A NEW U.S. COMMITMENT AND PARTNERSHIP WITH AFRICA. THESE ARE JUST A FEW OF THE EXPECTED HIGHLIGHTS. YES, THE NATIONAL SUMMIT IN FEBRUARY PROMISES TO BE A VERY POWERFUL, HISTORIC OCCASION.

EXCELLENCIES AND DISTINGUISHED LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, A LITTLE MORE THAN A YEAR AGO, THE LATE JULIUS NYERERE ATTENDED OUR INAUGURAL REGIONAL SUMMIT IN ATLANTA. MWALIMU WAS ONE OF OUR NATIONAL CO-CHAIRS AND A VIGOROUS SUPPORTER OF THE SUMMIT PROCESS. IN OUR CONVERSATIONS, HE WAS ENCOURAGED AND ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT THE NATIONAL SUMMIT ON AFRICA -- PRECISELY BECAUSE IT COULD HELP EFFECT THE CHANGE NEEDED IN WASHINGTON AND ACROSS THE UNITED STATES.

ADDRESSING THE SOUTHEAST REGIONAL SUMMIT, NYERERE SAID, AND I QUOTE: " WE WANT YOU TO HELP US DEVELOP, BUT WE WANT TO DEVELOP IN FREEDOM. THE NATIONAL SUMMIT ON AFRICA IS VERY IMPORTANT. IT SHOWS THAT AMERICA IS READY. NOW WE MUST MAKE SURE THAT AFRICA IS READY TO ASSIST THE SUMMIT IN REACHING OUR COMMON GOALS."

THIS IS MY PRINCIPAL REASON FOR BEING HERE WITH YOU FOR THIS IMPORTANT FORUM. TO HEAR YOUR VIEWS AND PERSPECTIVES ON THE SUMMIT PROCESS. IT WOULD BE ONLY FITTING IF WE WERE TO HELP FULFILL PART OF NYERERE'S LEGACY BY FORMING THE TYPE OF PARTNERSHIP OF WHICH HE SPOKE IN ATLANTA -- ONE THAT WILL LEAVE SHINING EXAMPLES OF LIGHT AND PROSPERITY FROM ONE CORNER OF THIS GREAT CONTINENT TO THE OTHER.

THE CLINTON ADMINSITRATION HAS SHOWCASED AFRICA AND DEMONSTRATED ITS RESPECT FOR AFRICA'S PROMISE AND POTENTIAL MORE THAN ANY OTHER ADMINISTRATION IN AMERICA'S HISTORY. IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT THIS LEVEL OF COMMITMENT, RESPECT AND ENGAGEMENT WITH AFRICA'S LEADERS AND ITS DEVELOPMENT ASPIRATIONS AND PRIORITIES IS SUSTAINED -- NO MATTER WHO SITS IN THE WHITE HOUSE, OR WHICH POLITICAL PARTY CONTROLS THE HALLS OF THE U.S. CONGRESS. I ASSURE YOU -

THE NATIONAL SUMMIT ON AFRICA IS READY TO TAKE ON THIS CHALLENGE -- AND THAT WE WILL SUCCEED.

I THANK YOU MOST SINCERELY FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS YOU!