Ambassador Speech on 4 july 2008

The United States celebrates the 232nd anniversary of its independence

On July 2, 2008, the U.S. Ambassador to Togo, Mr. David B. Dunn organized a reception in his residence on the occasion of the 232nd anniversary of the independence of the U.S. obtained on July 4, 1776. Several members of the government including Minister of Cooperation, Development and Country Planning Bawara, the former Prime Minister Agboyibo, Chief of Staff of the Togolese Armed Forces Nandja, political, religious, as well as traditional and civil society leaders attended the ceremony. On that occasion, Ambassador Dunn, who has come to the end of his tenure in Togo, delivered an important speech in which he evaluated the Togolese political situation and took stock of his two-year and a half presence in Togo. The transcription of Ambassador Dunn’s speech follows.

Mister Minister of Cooperation, Development and Country planning representing the cabinet,
Ladies and gentlemen Ministers,
Honorable members of the Parliament,
Ladies and gentlemen, Chiefs of Diplomatic Corps, Consular Missions and International Organizations,
Honorable traditional and religious chiefs,
Honorable guests from Non governmental Organizations and the civil society,
Honorable guests,
Dear colleagues,
Ladies and gentlemen,

I would like to thank you for accepting to join my colleagues and myself to celebrate the 232nd anniversary of our Declaration of Independence.  On July 4, 1776, thirteen colonies of North America met to declare their independence from Great Britain, and to found a new nation based on two great principles, namely that all men are created equal and that every government must draw its authority from the consent of the people.  The declaration alone was not sufficient to obtain independence – they had to go through a long and costive war of independence which lasted eight years - The realization of the two great above-mentioned principles remains a continual process which has been occupying generations of Americans for the past 232 years.

These past twelve months have seen important progress in Togo.  Free and peaceful legislative elections took place in October 2007.  Virtually every Togolese who waited to vote was able to register and vote for the party of his/her choice.  The government, the political opposition, the civil society and security forces, and especially the Togolese people are to be congratulated for the way they worked together to promote democracy in Togo.

In recognition of the reforms that have taken place over the past two years, President Bush recently added Togo to the list of countries eligible for the benefits of the African Growth and Opportunity Act.  What this means in practical terms is that almost every product manufactured, mined, or grown in Togo is able to enter the United States free of quotas and tariffs, with no reciprocal treatment for U.S. goods required on the part of the Togolese government.  

During this year of great progress, Togo had more than its share of bad luck, in the form of natural disasters.  Last summer, Togo experienced its first outbreak of grippe aviaire, and in September torrential rains in the far north caused flooding that eventually affected every region in the country.  I am proud of the emergency assistance my embassy and government was able to provide to assist the Togolese authorities to overcome these disasters, just as I am proud of the efforts of my government in helping to equip the Togolese government to better organize itself to combat two other serious threats to the well-being of its citizens -- HIV/AIDS and human trafficking. 

Another contribution that merits mentioning is the assistance my government provided to the Port of Lomé to help it meet the standards of the International Port Security Code.  In practical terms, ports that comply with the code have a competitive advantage over ports that do not. We could not talk about the assistance of my government to Togo without mentioning the PEACE project that involved Germany, France, the European Union, UNDP and the U.S. I would like to thank all my partners of PEACE for their good contribution and friendship.

On a more personal note, this will be my last Independence Day speech in Togo and possibly the last of my 30-year diplomatic career.  I will miss Togo and Africa greatly.  Togo will always occupy a very special place in the hearts of my spouse, Maria-Elena, and myself.  We have great admiration and affection for the spirit and resourcefulness of the Togolese people and their determination to better their lives through education and hard work.  They deserve a government that gives them every opportunity to realize their potential.  The democratic principles and reforms contained in the Global Political Agreement, which were negotiated in an inclusive, democratic manner by all the major political forces in Togo, offer the best change of success, in my view.  It is my fervent hope, as I prepare to depart, that there will be a recommitment to the letter and spirit of the agreement, and that its implementation will resume in earnest in the same spirit of inclusiveness and shared responsibility that led to its adoption. I am optimistic concerning the future of your lovely country.

In his farewell address to the people of the United States, President George Washington wrote:
" ...unity...is…a main pillar in the edifice of your real independence, …your tranquility at home, your peace abroad; of your safety; of your prosperity; of that very Liberty, which you so highly prize….cherish a cordial, habitual, and immovable attachment to it; watching for its preservation with jealous anxiety; discounting whatever may... suggest that it... can be abandoned; and indignantly frowning upon the first dawning of every attempt to alienate any portion of our country from the rest, or to enfeeble the sacred ties which now link together the various parts."

And now, I bid farewell to all my friends in Togo.
Thank you.