Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Johnnie Carson's Travel

9 Apr 2010 12:17 Africa/Lagos

Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Johnnie Carson's Travel

WASHINGTON, April 9, 2010/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- Office of the Spokesman


U.S. Assistant Secretary for African Affairs Johnnie Carson is traveling to France, the Republic of Congo (Brazzaville), Democratic Republic of the Congo (Kinshasa), and the United Kingdom from April 8 to April 19.

Assistant Secretary Carson will begin his trip in Paris, France where he will deliver a speech to the French-American Foundation Symposium. The topic of the speech will be Transnational Security Challenges in Africa. In addition, Assistant Secretary Carson will meet with a number of senior French officials.

Upon departing from Paris, Assistant Secretary Carson will head to Brazzaville where he has requested meetings with President Denis Sassou Nguesso, Foreign Minister Basile Ikouébé, and members of the political opposition. He will also confer with Embassy staff about the U.S. engagement plan for the Republic of Congo.

In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Assistant Secretary Carson has requested meetings with President Joseph Kabila, Foreign Minister Alexis Thambwe Mwamba, and various other senior Congolese officials. In addition to meeting with Embassy staff on our engagement in the DRC, he will travel to Kisangani to visit a U.S.-funded training mission for a Congolese light infantry battalion. The mission is a collaboration between the State Department and AFRICOM as part of our effort to further the professionalization of the Congolese military. Upon his return to Kinshasa, Assistant Secretary Carson will participate in a signing ceremony for the President's Emergency Plan for AID's Relief (PEPFAR) Partnership Framework with Prime Minister Adolphe Muzito before departing the country.

Assistant Secretary Carson will conclude his trip in London where he has a meeting scheduled with his counterpart in the Foreign Office. He will also participate in a press roundtable.



Source: US Department of State

12:16 12th IMF-East AFRITAC Steering Committee Meeting Concluded in Addis Ababa on April 7, 2010

Video: US Secretary of State for African Affairs Warns Nigeria and Niger

Johnnie Carson, Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs in the office of President Barack Obama has warned the politicians in Nigeria and Niger to beware of undemocratic actions that can destabilize the two nations.


24 Feb 2010 22:57 Africa/Lagos

State Department's Top Diplomat for Africa Encourages Nigeria and Niger to Stay with the Democratic Processes that have Proven Successful in the Two Countries.

DATELINE/CITY: February 24, 2010 - Washington, DC

FORMAT: Soundbites


STORY SUMMARY: Johnnie Carson, Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, briefed journalists on current issues in Africa.


ADDITIONAL RESOURCES: Video, hard copy requests, contact information and more available at http://thedigitalcenter.com/projects/1532-state-departments-top-diplomat-for-a frica-encourages-nigeria-and-niger-to-stay-with-the-democratic-processes-that- have-proven-successful-in-the-two-countries


www.state.gov

CLIP CONTAINING 2 SOUNDBITES (TRT: 1:57)

SOUNDBITES:

Soundbite #1 Johnnie Carson, Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs


Summary: Carson cautions Nigerians in responsible positions, not to use the situation surrounding the health of their President, for personal political gain.


Verbatim: We hope very, very much that the President has recuperated and is healthy and is able to resume his normal duties as President. But it is very important that those who are in responsible positions, put the health of the President of Nigeria first, that they think of the interests, of the stability, and the continued democracy of the country as a primary focal point of interest. This is not a time where personal political ambitions should in fact take precedence over the stability and continued democracy and adherence to the constitutional rule that governs Nigeria today.


TRT: 56 seconds


Soundbite #2 Johnnie Carson, Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs


Summary: Carson sees restoring of democracy in Niger very possible and comments on recent actions taken by junta to force new elections.


Verbatim: If they did this to restore democracy and liberty to the country then they should move forward with doing so very quickly. Niger has had very successful political elections in the past. They have had multi-political parties. There are established parties. There are institutions that were working, institutions that were defending democracy against President Tandja. It should be very easy for that country to move back towards a democratic process. If it does, we will be in the forefront of restoring as quickly as possible, our support for that, for that country.


TRT: 48 seconds

VIDEO PROVIDED BY: U.S. Department of State


FOR TECHNICAL INFORMATION OR HARD COPY, PLEASE E-MAIL: digitalcenter@multivu.com


Media Contact: Joan Storck, (202) 504-6411, storcklj@state.gov


/PRNewswire -- Feb. 24/


Video: http://thedigitalcenter.com/projects/1532-state-departments-top-diplomat-for-africa-encourages-nigeria-and-niger-to-stay-with-the-democratic-processes-that-have-proven-successful-in-the-two-countries
Source: U.S. Department of State

Web Site: http://www.state.gov/