Ambassador's remarks

at meeting between delegation and political party leaders

Deputy Secretary Pittman
Members of the American delegation
Esteemed Presidents of the Political Parties
Members of the American Embassy in Mauritania

It’s a great pleasure for me to meet with you today on the occasion of the visit to Mauritania of such a high-level American delegation.

Esteemed political party leaders

No one can ignore the importance of the role that political parties play in the success or failure of any democratic process.  For that reason, you will be busy, in the months to come, in playing a pre-eminent role in those actions aimed at establishing a legally constituted state and assuring a larger involvement of Mauritanian citizens in the building of their nation.

All your friends around the world and I hope that you will realize the aspirations of your people, which are to build a democratic state that offers to each of its citizens, no matter his opinion or origin, freedom, justice and happiness.

Gentlemen

I wish you success in your meeting, and hope that it will help you to understand all aspects of the cooperation that exists between the United States of America and Mauritania.

Thank you.

Nouakchott
February 8, 2006

Joseph LeBaron
Ambassador