OMAR BONGO

I'm not aiming for the Nobel Peace Prize!

It is important to stress: Africa is also a victim of the September 11 attacks.

Certainly, Africa accounts for only l % of world trade, and we cannot assure our development on our own.

In spite of our poverty and our economic dependence, we do not have to give in, neither because we are sometimes abandoned nor because of the wish of some nations to impose their economic or political models.

The free market economy is supposed to be the only path leading to the happiness of humanity by promoting wealth and prosperity, power and influence of nations.

It is up to African leaders to show their will and political courage in order to assure that this new pan-African institution becomes an efficient instrument and not a place for endless discussions.

The principle of responsibility and collective sanctions is incompatible with the Western concept of justice.

But the Western countries that link their partnership with the poorest countries with respect for democracy also have to consider that they have obligations towards these countries.

When they favor the access of other people to education and health care, the countries of the North not only demonstrate generosity or solidarity, but also implement the principles of respecting and promoting human rights.

My actions to promote peace, the mediation missions which I carried out during many conflicts, which very often occurred between brothers of the same country, are not driven by any ulterior motives or any calculations based on personal ambitions.

There is an idea of democracy produced by one-sided thinking.

Because the world is in economic recession, which worsened since this drama happened, and our country will bear the burden of all of these consequences.

But since independence, Gabon is one of the few countries in Central Africa that enjoys peace and stability.

For about ten years now, the struggle for democracy and the respect of human rights has been in the focus point - if not a commodity - of political groups aiming to rise to power.

Do not forget that the Arab countries, starting with Algeria and Egypt, are the ones that have paid the heaviest toll because of Islamic terror.

In brief, Western democracy, as other political models, is not exportable to all regions of the world.

But it is important to observe that when Europe or the United Nations impose sanctions that are supposed to be aimed against a certain regime, usually generally millions of people end up being directly punished.

I am in favor of complete freedom of information and of free access to the new communication tools, in particular the Internet.

In short, we have, among African countries, a duty of solidarity.

The shock caused by the September 11 events has also lead to a thorough reflection on the existing disparity between rich and poor countries, on the misery of populations of the South.

The birth of the African Union should encourage us to reexamine relations between African States.

If the Soviet Union and the United States have not experienced direct military confrontations, on the other hand, they supported, armed and trained Africans, to fight other Africans.

The African Union has to act in order to put an end to armed conflicts that undermine the continent, to fight against the devastation caused by AIDS and other contagious diseases, to promote sustainable development of its member states.

Economic sanctions rarely achieve the desired results.

It is not right to associate the fight against international terrorist networks with an imaginary crusade against Islam.