===== Original Message from TRANSFOR@SMTP (Arthur R. Ashe, Jr. Foreign
Policy Library) {[EMAIL PROTECTED]} at 3/09/98 6:27 pm
>
>>Robert: Please distribute. Thanks, Mwiza.
>>
>>STATEMENT OF RANDALL ROBINSON, PRESIDENT, TRANSAFRICA
>>
>>HR 1432, the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act, is the most sweeping
>>Africa-related legislation to be considered by the U.S. Congress in years.
>>
>>
>>To be eligible for the trade and aid benefits under the bill, African
>>countries MUST embrace a number of economic reforms, the major and direct
>>beneficiaries of which would be foreign corporations. While TransAfrica
>>recognizes the value of African nations entering into mutually beneficial
>>ventures with foreign corporations, we do not consider it constructive for
>>the United States to demand via statute solely those policies which make it
>>easier for foreign corporations to function unfettered in African
>>countries, while failing to stress - also via statute - those policies
>>which would directly benefit the people of Africa, such as public
>>investment in the areas of health, education, and democratization.
>>
>>The bill's corporate focus, absent the essential investments in human
>>capital mentioned above, renders the bill a disservice to Africa. Despite
>>the sterile terminology that characterizes much of the bill language,
>>Members of Congress must not lose sight of the fact that there will be
>>severe and lasting human consequences for the people of Africa unless the
>>bill is amended to stress the types of human-capital investments listed
>>above, and unless the Congress signals true commitment to Africa's
>>interests by providing significant debt relief and increased foreign
>>assistance. We all would welcome the day when Africa would not need
>>foreign assistance and would be able to rely sole on trade. However, while
>>working with seriousness and commitment towards that day, the United States
>>should see aid to Africa in the same light as we see aid to important
>>allies in the middle east, Europe, and the former Soviet Republics - not
>>ideal, but essential.
>>
>>Henry Kissinger is reported by the New York Times ("Indonesian Faceoff:
>>Drawing Blood Without Bombs" March 7, 1998) to have stated in reference to
>>the economic reforms being pushed in Asia, "If the definition of a
>>revolution is fundamental change in the economic and political system, then
>>what we are trying to engineer in some of these countries is clearly a
>>revolution."
>>
>>African countries need to take note of that admission, as do Members of
>>Congress. If indeed the United States is attempting to engineer
>>revolutions throughout the African continent via the type of policies
>>mandated by the IMF and HR 1432, it would be in the best interests of
>>Africa, as well as the corporations interested in investing there, that the
>>human suffering and tumult triggered by said revolutions be tempered. This
>>can be accomplished via amendments to HR 1432 which would reflect a serious
>>US commitment to debt relief, investment in human capital, and the
>>provision of foreign assistance which has proven to be of such great value
>>to Ireland, eastern Europe, and other allies to whose socio-economic and
>>political stability we are committed.
>>
>>Most importantly, the sovereignty of African nations must not be
>>compromised. Our nation has the right to determine which facilities should
>>not fall under foreign control for strategic reasons. This is a right we
>>should not deny Africa.
>>
>>
>
