ad info

 
CNN.comTranscripts
 
Editions | myCNN | Video | Audio | Headline News Brief | Feedback  

 

  Search
 
 

 

TOP STORIES

Bush signs order opening 'faith-based' charity office for business

Rescues continue 4 days after devastating India earthquake

DaimlerChrysler employees join rapidly swelling ranks of laid-off U.S. workers

Disney's GO.com is a goner

(MORE)

MARKETS
4:30pm ET, 4/16
144.70
8257.60
3.71
1394.72
10.90
879.91
 


WORLD

U.S.

POLITICS

LAW

TECHNOLOGY

ENTERTAINMENT

 
TRAVEL

ARTS & STYLE



(MORE HEADLINES)
 
CNN Websites
Networks image


Saturday Morning News

President Clinton Welcomed in Nigeria

Aired August 26, 2000 - 8:00 a.m. ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: We begin this morning in Nigeria, where President Clinton has begun a two day-visit to Africa's most populous nation. The president was welcomed in the capital city of Abuja with a 21-gun salute, native music and tribal dancing. During his visit, the president will embrace Nigeria's evolving democracy and try to get Nigeria to send more of its oil to the U.S.

CNN's John King, traveling with the president, joins us from the capital. Good morning, John.

JOHN KING, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Miles.

At this hour President Clinton in a meeting with the Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo. Back in the late 1970s, Mr. Obasanjo was a military leader here. The past 15 months he has been the democratically elected president. That's the main reason for Mr. Clinton's trip here, to salute the Nigerian democracy, to hold up this country as an example for the rest of Africa.

But as you mentioned, the president also has some very important business on his agenda. He would like, as the price of oil has crept up to over $30 a barrel now, for Nigeria, the world's sixth largest oil producer and a member of the OPEC cartel, Mr. Clinton wants Nigeria to increase production so that the price of oil would come down not only in the United States, but in the other industrialized countries, Mr. Clinton believing the high prices threaten recessions in countries with weak economies.

Nigeria comes to the table with needs, as well. Despite its oil riches, this is still a very poor country, billions in international debt owed because of the previous military governments. Mr. Obasanjo wants the United States to take the lead in urging other industrialized nations like the European nations and Japan to relieve or, indeed, forgive Nigeria's outstanding international debt. The president's here for two days.

He snubbed Nigeria when he first came to Africa two years ago because it was a military government then. Here he will hold up its young democracy as an example. He speaks later today to the National Assembly. President Obasanjo has had some tense relations with the parliament. Mr. Clinton will urge both sides to have more respect for each other and to be more patient.

Also on his agenda here, highlighting the efforts of this country to fight AIDS and other infectious diseases. AIDS is a scourge throughout Africa. The United States believes Nigeria taking an aggressive lead in fighting it. There will be some additional U.S. aid in that regard. Since the democracy took root, U.S. aid has increased from just $7 million to more than $110 million more aid to be announced today as the president visits here.

It's a quick stop, just two days, then he heads on for a brief stop in Tanzania. There the Burundi peace talks being held under the auspices of the former South African President, Nelson Mandela. Mr. Clinton will stop there, as well. But Nigeria his main reason for making a second trip to Africa.

Miles?

O'BRIEN: John, another change to the president's itinerary to report, as well?

KING: That's right. Just before Mr. Clinton left the White House for Africa, the White House announced he would stop in Cairo on the way home. This will be late Monday into Tuesday. Mr. Clinton will meet with the Egyptian president, Hosni Mubarak. This comes at a very critical time in the Middle East peace talks. Remember, a few weeks back the Camp David summit negotiations broke up without an agreement. The September 13th deadline for a framework of a final status agreement between the Israelis and the Palestinians fast approaching. Mr. Arafat, Yasser Arafat, the Palestinian leader, in Egypt this weekend. Mr. Clinton will stop and see Mr. Mubarak on the way home, hoping he can push for progress toward a final agreement between the Israelis and the Palestinians.

Miles?

O'BRIEN: CNN's John King with the president in Abuja, thanks very much.

For more insight on the president's visit to Nigeria, we're joined from Washington this morning by Kenneth Wollack. He is the president of the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs. Mr. Wollack, thanks for being with us.

KENNETH WOLLACK, NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTE: Thank you.

O'BRIEN: Give us an idea of what the president is trying to accomplish in this brief visit?

WOLLACK: Well, I think he has three purposes of the visit. As the report indicated, the lead in report, that he is formally and officially welcoming Nigeria into the international community of democratic countries. Second, I think he will be urging the Nigerian people to stay the democratic course, that the democratic transition will not produce instant economic benefits, but ultimately democratic government is the best form of government to help ameliorate the serious economic, political and social problems in the country and to pledge international support for the consolidation of democracy. And three, to continue his efforts to educate the American people on the importance of Africa to the United States and the rest of world. O'BRIEN: Now, when you say international support, are you talking about some sort of relief on that huge debt that Nigeria has?

WOLLACK: Well, certainly that will be an issue. But certainly there will be increased U.S. support and I think the United States will also be working with others in Europe and elsewhere to support the Nigerian transition. The European Union is also pledging increased support, as well.

O'BRIEN: This is a difficult time for any democracy, after so many years of military rule. How firm do you think the roots are right now?

WOLLACK: Well, you have to look at the record over the past year and also understand what this government has inherited from successive brutal military dictatorships in the country -- a huge foreign debt of over $30 billion, economic dislocation as a result of mismanagement and corruption, a country that is bereft in democratic institutions, the judiciary, parliament.

So over the past year there has been some important progress that has been made. The military has been reigned in. You have the emergence of a very active and vibrant parliament. You have other anti-corruption initiatives that has, that have been made by both the parliament and the government.

But serious challenges remain.

O'BRIEN: And from a U.S. perspective, the strategic interest in Nigeria is what?

WOLLACK: Well, this is the most populous country in Africa. It represents one fourth of the population of sub-Saharan Africa. So a democratic stable Nigeria is not only important because of the size of Nigeria, but also as a democratic anchor along with South Africa for the entire continent. It can play, and the United States and the rest of Africa hopes that Nigeria can play an important peacemaking and peacekeeping role in the entire region, a region now that has some serious social, economic and military problems.

So it can play an important role in places like Sierra Leone, places like Liberia, Cote d'Ivoire and throughout the continent.

O'BRIEN: The U.S. assistant secretary of state for Africa, Susan Rice, was quoted this past week as saying Nigeria is too rich to be poor, too poor to be rich. Do you care to elaborate on that quote?

WOLLACK: Well, you know, some say it's the curse of oil, but this is a country that has over the past 40 years since its independence, has drawn some $300 billion from its oil revenues and yet the country is in deep poverty and creating social and -- cleavages throughout the country.

So if they are able now to build democratic institutions, if they are able to reduce a blow to bureaucracy, if they are able to privatize, if they are able to move economically, this is a country that has tremendous potential for economic self-sufficiency.

O'BRIEN: All right. That's a good overview. Thank you very much. Kenneth Wollack, President of the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs. Thanks for being with us on CNN SATURDAY MORNING.

WOLLACK: Thank you very much.

O'BRIEN: All right.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com

 Search   


Back to the top  © 2001 Cable News Network. All Rights Reserved.
Terms under which this service is provided to you.
Read our privacy guidelines.