Rice Pitches U.S.--Africa Policy In Light of Presidential Visit

Calling it a "partnership for the 21st century," Assistant Secretary of State Susan E. Rice promoted the importance of America's current efforts to forge new ties with Africa in a speech yesterday at the Institute of Politics' ARCO Forum.

Rice, who works in the State Department's African Affairs Bureau, discussed the dynamic nature of American foreign policy in Africa.

"These are quite exciting times to be working in Africa," she said, noting that it was only ten years ago that apartheid reigned in South Africa.

In March, President Clinton paid a visit to Africa, marking the first substantial visit by a sitting president.

Rice noted that this visit, along with Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright's visit last June, were part of an effort to change American perceptions of and forge new relations with Africa.

"We wanted Americans to see beyond the distorted images of war, famine and disease," Rice said of the visits. "It was the first time Americans saw a panoramic view of Africa--a vast, diverse society and regular people with aspirations the same as our own."

According to Rice, current U.S. policy towards Africa is geared towards three goals: promoting economic growth, fostering democracy and human rights and encouraging conflict resolution.

From an economic standpoint, Rice emphasized that increased U.S. trade and investment in Africa would benefit both countries.

"Increasing ties with the global economy is crucial to sustaining economic growth," she said.

Rice also noted that more than 100,000 American jobs currently depend on exports to Africa.

In addition, Rice said the Clinton administration was working towards multilateral debt relief for African countries trying to participate in the world economy.

But some audience member were wary of the U.S. economic policy towards Africa.

"The word `partnership' implies equal power," said Patrick Sylvain, a student at the Graduate School of Education. "But I see it as the U.S. moving in as the new power. I hope that the commitment to economic growth in Africa is a real one, and not a lopsided attempt to exploit African markets."

Rice also described initiatives to help promote civic responsibility in Africa, such as investment in education and technology.

"We want to move Africans from chalkboards to keyboards, school rooms to universities, and hopefully to board rooms."

According to Rice, the U.S. has designed a training program to help African nations react quickly to internal conflicts, as well as set up an international coalition against genocide.

But Rice warned that problems such as state-sponsored terrorism, narcotics, disease and crime stand in the way of continued progress.

Therefore, she said, the U.S. must remain "energetic and ambitious."

"We all have to do our own little part," she said. "None of us can afford to be bystanders at this pivotal point."