| Washington,
DC, 12 May 2004
I
wish to express my thanks for the presence here of the chairmen
of some oil companies and the business people for an exchange
of views on new developments in my country after the end of
the armed conflict in Angola on 4 April 2002.
In
just over two years, there are already visible signs that
the recently-won peace is irreversible and is being consolidated
with each passing day.
Indeed,
state administration has been restored throughout our national
territory; many of the displaced persons and refugees abroad
are starting to return to their home areas; the free movement
of people and goods is constantly increasing; essential services
for the population are beginning to be regularised; party
political debates are becoming ever more lively and far-reaching
and are spreading to the whole country; macroeconomic stability
and inflation control are reaching levels never before attained;
state institutions are functioning normally; preparations
to create the legal instruments to regulate the next elections
are at an advanced stage; and, generally speaking, the democratic
rule of law is increasingly becoming an undeniable fact.
These
results were largely made possible by the desire for peace
and genuine national reconciliation, which was naturally required
of all citizens as the best way of overcoming old traumas
and forgetting antagonisms and contradictions of a secondary
nature. Conflicts of opinion still take place, but now they
are on a healthy basis of tolerance and respect for differences.
I
think we have finally achieved the indispensable basis for
relaunching large-scale productive activity and setting out
medium- and long-term development strategies, without forgetting
the need to take immediate steps to restore the confidence
and hope of the neediest sections of the population, who were
also those who most greatly suffered the effects of the protracted
war.
At
the same time, constant talks with international financial
institutions like the IMF and the World Bank have made it
possible to restore mutual trust, which will certainly lead
in the short term to agreements capable of healing all past
differences of opinion and reinstating the Angolan economy
internationally.
Angola
has reaffirmed on many occasions that it is committed to ever
more transparent management of public resources, within the
framework of good governance and the consolidation of democracy.
We
cannot forget, however, that Angola is a country that has
just come out of a long armed conflict, with its own specific
realities, which warrants differentiated treatment. This is
true if only because, despite the difficulties inherent in
a process of recovery in a difficult situation, we can already
show the world quantifiable and very evident stabilisation
efforts.
We
would therefore like to repeat the appeals made on past occasions
for more American investment in Angola, since we are aware
that it could greatly speed up Angola’s economic recovery
and, at the same time, provide benefits for those who believe
in the enormous potential my country offers in every sphere.
As
I had the opportunity to state recently in a letter to President
Bush, Angola would like to give preferential treatment to
the US market in all this process, which is why it extended
the oil exploration rights of Chevron-Texaco for another thirty
years and, in partnership with that company, Exxon-Mobil and
others, is implementing a project for the production of liquefied
natural gas.
In
any event, the cooperation possible between the two countries
is not confined to the oil industry. The facilities destroyed
during the war, like highways, bridges, homes, dams, industrial
units and so forth, need to be rehabilitated or rebuilt from
scratch.
The
immensity of the country means rethinking efficient road,
rail and air networks. Agriculture offers a vast range of
opportunities. Many minerals and other essential products
needed in the world still remain to be mined. Our hydrographical
resources are almost inexhaustible.
We
are therefore open to constructive investment in these areas.
At the same time, and availing ourselves of the opportunity
offered by the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act, Angola is
also open to partnership proposals or direct investments aimed
at using the facilities of that programme, particularly the
tax-free export of goods to the USA.
The
measures we are taking domestically to lessen all bureaucratic
procedures related to foreign investment and to make conditions
more attractive for investors will certainly interest you
too.
However,
within the context of national reconstruction, an international
donor conference remains an absolute necessity, because it
is almost impossible for a country with a material, social
and human fabric severely affected by such a protracted conflict
to overcome the destruction and damage and build a new life
out of the ruins on its own.
It
is my hope that all those present will become more aware of
the size of the problem and, in your areas, contribute to
ensuring that the desired results are achieved as soon as
possible.
I
would like to propose a toast to the health and long life
of all those present and to friendship and cooperation between
the United States and Angola. Many thanks for your presence.
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