THURSDAY, 5 FEBRUARY 2004
301 Majority of Africa's Child Deaths Linked to Environmental
Factors
(FR) (Six African countries are basis for WHO child health initiative) (600)
302 U.S. to Pledge $200 Million to Liberia for Reconstruction,
Says USAID
Chief
(Adds to $240 million for peacekeeping, Natsios tells FPC) (760)
303 Congo River Basin Legislation Awaits President's Signature
(FR) (Conservation measure will help protect basin's environmental resources)
(400)
305 Text: New U.S. Aid Corporation Names 63 Potentially Eligible
Countries
(Countries' commitment to development will be evaluated, group says) (920)
306 Transcript: U.S. Committed to Prevention of Genocide,
Official Says
(Sanctions and education key tools) (1370)
307 Text: Bush Proclaims National African American History Month
2004
(FR) (He says new museum will commemorate African Americans' achievements)
(660)
*AEF301 02/04/2004
Majority of Africa's Child Deaths Linked to Environmental Factors
(FR) (Six African countries are basis for WHO child health initiative) (600)
Washington -- The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that up to 70 percent of children who die in Africa succumb to diseases linked directly or indirectly to environmental risk factors. These include respiratory infection, diarrhea, measles, malaria, HIV/AIDS and malnutrition.
The major classes of environmental risks for African children, according to a February 3 WHO news release from Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo, are inadequate access to safe drinking water, poor hygiene and sanitation, disease vectors, air pollution, chemical hazards and unintentional injuries.
In the release, WHO says a technical consultation to review the national profiles on the status of children's environmental health in six African countries will take place February 4-6 in Cape Town, South Africa, hosted on behalf of the WHO Regional Office for Africa (AFRO) by the Medical Research Council of South Africa.
The national profiles were developed in six countries -- Benin, Ethiopia, the Republic of Congo, Mozambique, Seychelles and Zimbabwe -- with the support of the Swedish Expertise Fund. The information gathered from these six countries will be used to design interventions for implementing WHO's Healthy Environments for Children Initiative in the African Region.
Some 20 percent of children born in Africa may not live to see their fifth birthday, and many who survive are not likely to live to develop their full potential because of long-term disorders.
The three-day Cape Town meeting will review the methods for assessing the impact of environmental threats on children's health in Africa, evaluate the results of the national profiles initiative and make concrete proposals for addressing the needs identified.
The national profiles will provide an overview on the status of children's environmental health and identify the key threats and adverse effects suffered by the most vulnerable groups. The profiles will also show what actions have been or are being taken by different sectors within each country and will help countries identify challenges and propose solutions.
WHO will also launch a new publication at this event, "Making a difference: indicators to improve children's environmental health," which forms an important part of the organization's worldwide effort to monitor and address environmental risks to children's health.
WHO officials say that for the first time, public health officials will have a set of tools at their disposal to assess the risks from and take timely actions to prevent irreparable damage to children from environmental hazards. The new indicators, for example, will help public health officials monitor children's exposure to air pollution by tracking the percentage of children living in homes using biomass fuels for cooking and the annual exposure of children to outdoor air pollution.
The percentage of children living in households without basic services for water supply, hygiene and sanitation will be monitored as an indication of the dangers from unsafe drinking water and inadequate sanitation and hygiene. The same approach is replicated for all major environmental risks to children's health.
"Often, to assess accurately how environmental hazards affect a child's -- or anyone's -- health, you need a combination of actions. Both the national profiles on children's environmental health and the indicators will give health officials the world over a standardized and comprehensive means of tracking and addressing environmental health risks," said Margaret Chan, director of the Department for the Protection of the Human Environment at WHO Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.
The indicators are currently being monitored in the Americas, Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean, and the Cape Town meeting will launch the monitoring of the indicators in Africa.
(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of
State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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*AEF302 02/04/2004
U.S. to Pledge $200 Million to Liberia for Reconstruction, Says USAID Chief
(Adds to $240 million for peacekeeping, Natsios tells FPC) (760)
By Jim Fisher-Thompson
Washington File Staff Writer
Washington -- The U.S. Government will pledge $200 million in reconstruction and development aid to Liberia, a country dismantled by 14 years of bloody civil war during which 250,000 people were killed and a further 1.4 million were displaced, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Andrew Natsios announced February 4.
Natsios was speaking at a press conference for foreign journalists held at the State Department's Foreign Press Center on the eve of a two-day International Reconstruction Conference on Liberia to be held at United Nations headquarters in New York. The United States, the United Nations and the World Bank, in collaboration with the National Transitional Government of Liberia (NTGL), are sponsoring the conference. Liberian Foreign Minister Thomas Nimely joined Natsios at the Washington press conference.
Natsios said the new $200 million pledge was in addition to $245 million the U.S. Government has agreed to pay as its share of the U.N. Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) peacekeeping force. Now at 11,000 troops, the U.N. force is expected to reach 15,000 by March, which will make it the largest current U.N. peacekeeping force anywhere in the world.
"An enormous effort will be required by the international community to assist Liberia in conquering the obstacles that remain toward reconstruction. This is, however, the best opportunity the country has had in a very long time since the civil war started," Natsios told the foreign press. He added that the European Community (EU) had also pledged, in advance of the New York meeting, $120 million over two years for reconstruction in Liberia.
Natsios noted that security would be a top priority in the new reconstruction plan for Liberia. "The most important thing to this [plan] is the security sector," he said. "If we do not do successful disarmament, demobilization, rehabilitation and reintegration (DDRR) of former combatants, reconstruction is not going work."
If that is not done, Natsios said, there will be several negative results: "Civilians won't feel secure enough to do what they have to do" to restore the country. "Secondly, one group or militia -- and they are usually connected to ethnic groups and parties -- will not disarm if the other groups do not do so because they will feel at risk without their arms to protect them. So the only solution is to disarm everyone and that is what the plan is."
Meanwhile, he added, "a whole generation has been lost in Liberia, particularly the children, in terms of school and health care, so rehabilitation and reintegration programming must repair the fabric of society that has been torn apart over the past 14 years."
Asked if he believed formation of a new Liberian defense force was important to the nation's future stability and prosperity, Natsios said, "The plan is to develop a new Liberia national army."
While noting that in some countries like Costa Rica a decision was made to abolish the military entirely, he stated that "that's not what's being planned" for Liberia. "The plan [for Liberia] is to construct a national military that is not dominated by one ethnic or religions group and that is balanced so that it truly is national."
Natsios emphasized that ultimately democracy is the real guarantor of security. "The reason that [men like] Charles Taylor and rebel movements around the world have currency in any country is because the country is not democratically governed in an honorable way.
"Why did Charles Taylor get support? Because people were very upset with the central government in Monrovia. If there hadn't been unrest in the countryside, he wouldn't have been able to recruit anyone."
Liberian Foreign Minister Nimely told journalists: "We do need hope ... and there is a lot of progress taking place on the ground in Liberia. Ten thousand [U.N.] troops have been deployed ... and the citizens of the country are very happy to receive" those peacekeepers. "The combatants are also extremely happy and ready to respond" to the DDRR efforts.
"The peace process in Liberia is irreversible," Nimely said, because there now exists a will on the national level to do what has to be done to ensure peace and stability. "All of the factions, civil society and political parties" are ensuring that transparency and good governance take place now to pave the way for elections set for October 2005, he said.
(The Washington File is a product of the Bureau of International Information Programs,
U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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*AEF303 02/04/2004
Congo River Basin Legislation Awaits President's Signature
(FR) (Conservation measure will help protect basin's environmental resources) (400)
Washington -- Legislation to protect dwindling forests of the Congo River Basin in Africa has cleared its final legislative hurdle and will soon be signed by President Bush, its chief author, U.S. Rep. Edward Royce (Republican of California), announced February 3.
Royce, chairman of the Subcommittee on Africa in the U.S. House of Representatives, has taken the lead on the Congo Basin Forest Partnership (CBFP) bill, which had passed the House by unanimous vote in October 2003. After going to the Senate, where it was amended and passed, the CBFP bill was returned to the House where it again passed on February 3 with strong bipartisan support. It now goes to the president's desk for his signature.
"Congo basin forests are coming under growing pressures. Ten years ago, these forests were virtually untouched," Royce explained in a press release. "Today, logging operations are shrinking these forests." It is estimated that every year logging is deforesting areas twice the size of Rhode Island (2,500 square miles), warned Royce, who recently co-founded the International Conservation Caucus in the House to support the CBFP and other international efforts to promote conservation.
Launched in 2002 by Secretary of State Colin Powell, the CBFP is focused on eleven key landscapes in six countries. It aims to support a network of national parks and protected areas and well-managed forestry concessions.
"Sadly, the construction of logging roads is putting intense hunting pressure on wildlife. At current levels, unless we act, most species of apes, large antelope, and elephants will disappear from the Congo basin, with some becoming extinct," said Royce.
The CBFP is working to combat illegal logging, poaching and other destructive activities while giving local populations an economic stake in the preservation of the forests, including through the creation of eco-tourism, which has great development potential for Africans.
"Conservation isn't easy. America led the world in establishing our tremendous national park system; it took great foresight and political commitment to make this a reality, which is often taken for granted," said Royce. "It will be a major challenge to establish and maintain effective regimes to control logging and hunting in the Congo basin, but it's a challenge that could be met with the unique experience and talents that the United States can provide."
(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of
State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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*AEF305 02/04/2004
Text: New U.S. Aid Corporation Names 63 Potentially Eligible Countries
(Countries' commitment to development will be evaluated, group says) (920)
The new U.S. Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) has released the names of 63 countries eligible to compete for funds from a new foreign aid account.
The first candidate countries for Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) funding are those that have a maximum average per capita income of $1,415 and are eligible for assistance from the World Bank's no-interest lending arm, the International Development Association (IDA), according to a February 3 MCC press release.
Next, the MCC will evaluate the countries based on "a rigorous assessment of their commitment to development," the release said.
"The MCA is an unprecedented assistance program initiated by President Bush that has received wide bipartisan support and $1 billion in funding for FY 2004 [fiscal year 2004] from Congress," the release stated.
The MCA will be used to support projects "that encourage long-run, sustained economic growth" necessary for achieving "lasting poverty reduction," said Under Secretary of State Alan Larson, during a February 3 press briefing. Larson is the MCC's interim chief executive officer (CEO).
The corporation -- which had its first meeting February 2 -- is chaired by Secretary of State Colin Powell and so far includes Treasury Secretary John Snow, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Zoellick and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Andrew Natsios. Five additional members and a permanent chief executive officer (CEO) will be named later, according to recent MCC statements.
Following is the text of the MCC press release:
(begin text)
February 3, 2004
Millennium Challenge Account Is Launched
The Board of Directors of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) met on February 2, 2004 to launch this new U.S. Government corporation that will administer the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA). The MCA is an unprecedented assistance program initiated by President Bush that has received wide bipartisan support and $1 billion in funding for FY 2004 [fiscal year 2004] from Congress.
The Board is chaired by Secretary of State Colin L. Powell and includes Secretary of the Treasury John Snow as Vice Chairman, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Zoellick, and USAID Administrator Andrew Natsios. Five additional members will be named later. The Board took a number of actions, including:
-- Naming an interim CEO -- Ambassador Alan Larson, Under Secretary of State for Economic, Business, and Agricultural Affairs;
-- Approving the list of candidate countries that can compete for MCA assistance. The candidate countries for FY04 are those countries that have a per capita income of $1415 or less, are eligible to borrow from the World Bank's International Development Association, and are not ineligible to receive United States economic assistance under part 1 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 or any other provision of law (see attached list);
-- Approving the bylaws for the corporation.
In his opening remarks, Secretary Powell noted that the MCC demonstrated America's commitment to the principle that, "People matter. The plight of the world's poor presents all of us with a profound moral challenge. Alleviating their suffering also holds profound implications for freedom and security across the globe. For a world in which ordinary people have hope for the future is a world in which democracy and prosperity will spread and tyrants and terrorists cannot thrive."
Secretary Snow added: "I want to thank Congress for working with the Administration to make a reality the President's vision of an assistance program that rewards countries that govern justly, invest in their citizens, and promote economic freedom."
More information on MCA is available at www.mcc.gov <http://www.mcc.gov>.
Candidate Countries for Millennium Challenge Account in FY 2004
The Millennium Challenge Act of 2003 provides that, during FY 2004, countries shall be able to compete for funding from the Millennium Challenge Account if they:
-- are eligible for assistance from the International Development Association;
-- have a per capita income equal to or less than the historic ceiling of the International Development Association (or $1415 for FY 2004); and
-- are not subject to legal provisions that prohibit them from receiving United States economic assistance under Part I of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended.
The Board of Directors of the Millennium Challenge Corporation has identified the candidate countries below as able to compete for funding for FY 2004. These candidate countries will later be evaluated by the MCC Board to determine whether they should be able to submit proposals for MCC funding, based on a rigorous assessment of their commitment to development. The quality of proposals submitted will also be evaluated and final funding decisions then made.
1. Afghanistan
2. Albania
3. Angola
4. Armenia
5. Azerbaijan
6. Bangladesh
7. Benin
8. Bhutan
9. Bolivia
10. Bosnia and Herzegovina
11. Burkina Faso
12. Cameroon
13. Cape Verde
14. Chad
15. Comoros
16. Congo, Dem. Rep.
17. Congo, Rep. (Brazzaville)
18. Djibouti
19. East Timor
20. Eritrea
21. Ethiopia
22. Gambia
23. Georgia
24. Ghana
25. Guinea
26. Guyana
27. Haiti
28. Honduras
29. India
30. Indonesia
31. Kenya
32. Kiribati
33. Kyrgyz Republic
34. Lao PDR
35. Lesotho
36. Madagascar
37. Malawi
38. Mali
39. Mauritania
40. Moldova
41. Mongolia
42. Mozambique
43. Nepal
44. Nicaragua
45. Niger
46. Nigeria
47. Pakistan
48. Papua New Guinea
49. Rwanda
50. Sao Tome and Principe
51. Senegal
52. Sierra Leone
53. Solomon Islands
54. Sri Lanka
55. Tajikistan
56. Tanzania
57. Togo
58. Tonga
59. Uganda
60. Vanuatu
61. Vietnam
62. Yemen, Rep.
63. Zambia
(end text)
(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of
State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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*AEF306 02/04/2004
Transcript: U.S. Committed to Prevention of Genocide, Official Says
(Sanctions and education key tools) (1370)
In a January 26 speech to the Stockholm International Forum, Pierre-Richard Prosper, Ambassador-at-large for War Crimes Issues, said that the United States will work with the international community to make certain that all countries guard against genocide and "those who would exterminate liberty and innocent life."
Noting the importance of taking action to prevent genocide before it begins, rather than simply intervening once it has taken place, Prosper said the international community "must maximize the use of diplomatic and humanitarian tools to prevent genocide from ever occurring, rather than simply trying to stop it in its course."
In addition, Prosper suggested that states target those who might commit genocide by applying what he called "appropriate and smart sanctions" such as visa bans and asset seizures against them.
Prosper noted, however, that the most important tool in the fight against genocide is education. "All who cherish freedom, value human dignity, [and] recognize the horror of the Holocaust, understand the seminal role of education to enlighten future generations, " he said.
The following is a transcript of the ambassador's speech:
(begin transcript)
Diplomatic and Humanitarian Tools Prevent Genocide
Pierre-Richard Prosper, Ambassador-at-Large for War Crimes Issues
Remarks to the Stockholm International Forum
Stockholm, Sweden
January 26, 2004
Your Majesty, Royal Highness, Prime Minister, Secretary-General, Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen:
It is a pleasure for me to be here in a city characterized by its historical role in developing and expounding international peace and justice. We thank Prime Minister Goran Persson and the Government of Sweden for hosting this important Forum. It is the hope of the U.S. here that we can hone our tools towards a shared objective: creating an environment where the innocent are protected and those who disregard human life face resolute justice.
This morning we saw a recital that was moving and underscored the tragic and terrible history we have experienced. It personally also brought back memories for me. My fellow delegates, as a UN prosecutor I had the duty to bring to life Lempkin's definition of genocide and secure the first ever conviction under the 1948 Convention. As a result I share Lempkin's observation that genocide anywhere affects us all. We have a duty to remedy this evil. The United States believes that our overarching responsibility must be to create conditions in the world where such catastrophes as the Holocaust, the killing fields in Cambodia, the Rwanda Genocide, and the over 25 years of the massive assault on humanity in Iraq will be put beyond the human imagination. There needs to be a coordinated approach that watches for signs of impending violence and reacts to it with diplomacy, humanitarian assistance, justice, force where appropriate, and education.
The United States is committed to working with the international community to ensure that every state fulfills its obligations to guard against those who would exterminate liberty and innocent life.
In the past, consideration of how to prevent genocide and mass atrocities has often been presented as a stark choice between forcible intervention the commitment of troops or standing aside in hope that it will stop. This is not acceptable. If we are facing this dilemma, then it is already too late. For if we are serious about preventing genocide, we will take action even before violence begins. We know that Genocide and mass atrocities do not arise spontaneously. They are the result of careful planning. They are the result of a breakdown in social fabrics and form part of political calculations. They are also the result of pure ethnic, racial, national, and religious hatred. Genocide leaves a recognizable trail that if addressed early is reversible. The U.S. agrees that we need an appropriate early warning system.
A growing number of academic and government officials many of whom are present here today have studied these phenomena, and have cited a number of factors that set the stage for atrocities. The United States is part of this effort, and has persons dedicated to studying trends in order to warn policy and decision makers with the hope of true and real prevention. These individuals closely monitor states that experience political, economic, or social upheaval. They monitor countries with poor human rights, countries who ignore the rule of law and have no freedom of the press. They watch countries that disengage from the international community and disregard the welfare/life of vast segments of their population. We must find an appropriate way to bring our efforts together.
As we see such situations, the United States believes our duty is to engage early with diplomatic and humanitarian action. We must maximize the use of diplomatic and humanitarian tools to prevent genocide from ever occurring, rather than simply trying to stop it in its course. Each state must recognize its responsibility to properly regulate its territory and must recognize the consequences of inaction. Regions must see they have a duty to support the rule of law and engage neighbors bilaterally as well as through regional agreements and institutions. This involves sending strong messages of rebuke and involves raising a bilateral disapproval into a multilateral condemnation. Consequences must be made clear. We should not hesitate to be firm. We should not hesitate to withhold assistance. We should not hesitate to levy appropriate and smart sanctions targeting individuals who plant the seeds of genocide using visa bans, asset seizures, and other means. Additionally, we should maintain standards for entry into regional and multinational institutions and make clear that entry is a privilege, not a right. And of course, offenders need to know, if they commit these crimes, they will face justice.
Since the Nuremberg trials, we have all worked to create a framework of principles to secure the rule of law and hold perpetrators accountable. The United States believes that we must fortify these principles by encouraging states to pursue credible justice and come to terms with their pasts. We all must assist states in such efforts by providing as needed the technical, financial and human resources. We must not tolerate abdication of the responsibility to pursue justice at home. We must not tolerate the lack of political will. Hard experience has taught us that lasting peace and democracy can only be achieved where there is justice and accountability justice that touches society, has its acceptance, and ideally the participation, of the local community. Sadly, we must recognize there will be, despite our efforts, outbreaks of atrocities. We now know that these occasions may call for use of force. This must be done as required but at all times with forethought. This calls for contingency planning within governments and collaboration amongst states. The burden to act should not fall on one country and no country is exempt from this responsibility.
Countries must determine how to fulfill their respective responsibilities by examining what they have to offer in terms of contributing military personnel, providing logistical support, or helping with political and financial assistance. Primary responsibility should fall to states in the affected region and then as necessary, to the broader international community.
While we talk of steps of prevention, nothing replaces education. All who cherish freedom, value human dignity, recognize the horror of the Holocaust understand the seminal role of education to enlighten future generations. This Forum and its predecessors have contributed to raising awareness and have led to useful initiatives such as the Task Force for International Cooperation on Holocaust Education, Remembrance and Research. It is efforts like these that leaves us to understand we must as Elie Wiesel stated here for years ago, transform information into knowledge, knowledge into understanding, understanding into sensitivity. A sensitivity that leads to an understanding that each human life has value and that every ethnical, racial, national, and religious group makes a contribution to the world. We benefit from our diversity. Humanity is enriched by our differences. The United States stands ready to work with you to break this cycle of violence. My delegation looks forward to working with you during this Forum to find solutions and lay the groundwork which will truly allow us to say, never again.
(end transcript)
(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of
State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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*AEF307 02/04/2004
Text: Bush Proclaims National African American History Month 2004
(FR) (He says new museum will commemorate African Americans' achievements) (660)
Washington -- President Bush said that in recognition of "the heritage and accomplishments of African Americans [and] their extraordinary contributions to the United States," the month of February 2004 is proclaimed "National African American History Month."
In a White House news release of the proclamation issued February 4, the president noted his signing of legislation "establishing the National Museum of African American History and Culture as a part of the Smithsonian Institution" to commemorate the triumphs of African Americans and "their determination in overcoming the evil of slavery ... and their many achievements."
He said the month will be observed by "appropriate programs and activities that highlight and honor the contributions African Americans have made to our Nation."
Following is the text of the presidential proclamation:
(begin text)
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release
February 4, 2004
NATIONAL AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH, 2004
- - - - - - -
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION
During National African American History Month, we honor the heritage and accomplishments of African Americans and recognize their extraordinary contributions to the United States.
African Americans have upheld the ideals of America, defended our homeland, and enriched American culture and society. Brave leaders such as Sojourner Truth, Harriet Tubman, Booker T. Washington, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Leon Sullivan caused America to examine its heart and to respect the dignity and equality of all people, regardless of race. Today, African Americans are leaders at the highest levels of the military, business, education, law, government, the arts, sports, and religion.
To help share the stories of the millions of African Americans who have strengthened our country, I recently signed legislation establishing the National Museum of African American History and Culture as a part of the Smithsonian Institution. This museum will commemorate the triumphs of African Americans -- their determination in overcoming the evil of slavery and discrimination and their many achievements and contributions to our Nation.
This year's National African American History Month celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Supreme Court's 1954 decision in Brown v. Board of Education. In that landmark decision, the Supreme Court declared an end to the shameful and unconstitutional practice of legal segregation in schools, ruling unanimously that the Constitution requires all Americans to be treated equally without regard to the color of their skin. The Brown decision transformed America and fulfilled the principles of our Constitution. This year, we remember the brave schoolchildren and parents who challenged segregation. We recognize the legal and moral advocates who paved the way for this decision, including Thurgood Marshall, the heroic lawyer who represented Linda Brown and fought for her rights and the rights of all African Americans. We remember the nine justices of the Supreme Court who helped America begin to make equal justice under law a reality for African Americans. Nearly 50 years after Brown, we are grateful for the progress America has made, but we also recognize that there is still work to be done to ensure that our country lives up to the founding principle that all of God's children are created equal.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim February 2004 as National African American History Month. I call upon public officials, educators, librarians, and all the people of the United States to observe this month with appropriate programs and activities that highlight and honor the contributions African Americans have made to our Nation.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this third day of February, in the year of our Lord two thousand four, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and twenty-eighth.
GEORGE W. BUSH
(end text)
(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of
State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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