EQUIPO NIZKOR |
|
28Aug04
Hagel meets with African officials.
With the United States expected to get 25 percent of its oil from the Gulf of Guinea by 2020, Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb., said it's important that this country is not perceived as exploiting that oil and gas wealth from West Africa.
"That is why it is important that it is done right," Hagel said Thursday from Africa during a telephone conference, with Nebraska reporters.
He said instead of the United States increasing its presence in West Africa in an arbitrary way, developing critical partnerships is key.
"Whether it's diplomatic, trade, economics and all of those other areas outside the energy sector, it needs to come together so our motives are trusting," Hagel said.
Hagel was on a week long visit to West Africa and the Gulf of Guinea with General Charles Wald, the deputy commander of U.S. forces in Europe.
Hagel, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Sub-Committee on International Policy, Export and Trade Promotion, has held hearings on the Gulf of Guinea. The most recent was "The Gulf of Guinea and U.S. Strategic Energy Policy" held on July 15. Hagel will assess regional security and energy issues, economic development and political reform in West Africa. He traveled to Nigeria, Angola, Gabon, Cameroon, Sao Tome and Principe.
"The stability and security of this area is critical because there will be no development and no opportunities in the area of energy development and enhancement of the lives of the people there unless stability and security is in place," he said.
Currently, the United States imports around 15 percent of its foreign oil needs from the Gulf of Guinea. The area also sits on a huge natural gas supply.
Hagel said he didn't get many question about U.S. involvement in Iraq from the African officials he met with.
"I don't think that there is any question that there is suspicion all over the world about America's motives in Iraq," he said. "Certainly oil is one of the suspicion people have to why we are in Iraq."
And that is one of the reasons why the United States must work hard in the Gulf of Guinea area to alleviate those concerns, Hagel said.
But Hagel also said as those countries enhance their treasuries from their oil and gas reserves, that new wealth must benefit the people of those countries.
"One of the reason why these African nations are so far behind, why there is so much trouble and endemic poverty is corruption," he said. "It will require their own leadership to turn these countries around."
One of the concerns expressed by the African leaders Hagel met with was terrorism and the vulnerability of these African countries in their ability to protect themselves against the threat of terrorism.
"It is a challenge that each of these African nations know faces them," he said.
Wald said the United States will be an active partner in helping those West African nations defend their borders from terrorism.
"In theory, Africans take care of themselves," Wald said. "But we want to be part of that from the standpoint of training, organizing and equipping. We think there are other countries in the world, especially in Europe, that has a significant responsibility in that aspect and we are seeing indications that they want to participate. But what we have seen time and time again is that without U.S. leadership if just doesn't happen. I think the United States has a huge part to play in this area."
Hagel said the West African nations he visited have come through a very difficult periods of time.
"Some countries are further advanced than others as to the stability and sophistication of their government," he said. "But they are all facing the same types of challenges. This vast, important and powerful continent called Africa is going to become a very critical, strategic area for the world."
[Source: By Robert Pore, The Independent, London, UK, 28Aug04]
 | This document has been published on 20Oct04 by the Equipo Nizkor and Derechos Human Rights. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. |