Flight To Cameroon

An OECD agreement, however, will not be enough to solve theproblem. Corruption at the highest level is difficult to addressexcept through a free press, which has begun to take root. Butwhat really irritates businesses and discourages investment isthe day-to-day bribes to underpaid African public servants, bethey customs officials or other regulatory officers. What can bedone? Countries do not need 10 port officials, for example, todo the work of two. Cut the number of officials and raise thewages of those who remain to receive what they would if theycontinued to extort bribes. That would allow them to earn adecent living wage "legally." ... [Read More]

USIS Washington File: TEXT: RUBIN CITES PLASTIC EXPLOSIVES MARKING CONVENTION

The United States calls upon all other nations that have yet to become party to this Convention to do so in order to strengthen even further the international control regime on plastic explosives. We also call for all nations that have not yet done so to become party to the other ten antiterrorism conventions, including the newest one, the International Convention for the Suppression of Terrorist Bombings, which opened for signature last January. ...

-- The Convention also requires states to import and export only marked plastic explosives, to ensure that they have effective controls over stockpiles of existing plastic explosives, and requires states to mark, use up, or destroy within 15 years their military stockpiles of unmarked plastic explosives (3 years for stockpiles held by non-military entities). ... [Read More]

Department of State Washington File: Transcript: White House Daily Briefing, March 20

As far as the security and the comfort of the American in their homes and in their places of business, the President understands that for many people in this nation this can be a tense time. The President understands that. And he's very sensitive and caring about that. The President is confident that the steps that have been put in place by the Department of Homeland Security, the improvements made to homeland security since September 11th are effective. But there are no guarantees. But the President does believe that one of the most important, effective ways to protect Americans in the homeland is to stop attacks abroad before they can gather on our own shores. And the biggest threat that we worried about in the case of Saddam Hussein was that if the world allowed him to, if the world sat on the sidelines, Saddam Hussein would, indeed, one day bring those weapons to our shore to attack our people. This action is taken to protect our people so that day never arrives. ... [Read More]

Country Commercial Guide - US Embassy, Libreville

(return to table of contents) Chapter VII Gabon Investment Climate Revised July 2000 This small equatorial country with a population of just over 1.1 million is located on Central Africa's Atlantic coast. Gabon became independent in 1960 and, reflecting its colonial heritage, economic, linguistic and cultural ties with France remain strong. President Omar Bongo, in office since 1967, was re-elected in December 1998 with 66 % of the vote. The government is headed by a Prime Minister and also includes a National Assembly elected every five years and a constitutional (supreme) court. President Bongo's party and coalition partners hold a large parliame ... [Read More]

Outer Space Treaty
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Tips for Travelers to Sub Saharan Africa

March 2001 Foreword Your trip to Africa will be an adventure off the beaten path. Conditions and customs in sub-Saharan Africa can contrast sharply with those in the United States. These pages contain advice to help you avoid inconvenience and difficulties. Take our advice seriously but don’t let it keep you at home. Most Americans have unforgettable experiences in Africa. We are often welcomed and helped by Africans who are happy to share not just their scenery, but their culture and tradition ... [Read More]