Governor of Gorgol Province, Mr. Mohamed Mahmoud Ould Khattra
Mayor of Kaédi, Mr. Sow Moussa Demba
Mr. Shaw, Director of the Peace Corps
Volunteers
Ladies and Gentlemen

It is truly a pleasure for me to attend this ceremony to install 66 new Peace Corps volunteers, here in Kaedi, which I have the pleasure of visiting for the first time.  I cannot imagine a better way to demonstrate American commitment to help Mauritania than this public recognition of that commitment.

Ladies and Gentlemen

Since its creation under President John F. Kennedy, the Peace Corps has always been a model of successful cooperation between the United States of America and friendly nations.  And, since the arrival of the first Volunteer in Mauritania in 1967, more than 1000 Peace Corps volunteers have served here. The Peace Corps truly appreciates the wonderful support given it by both the Mauritanian government and the Mauritanian people, wherever Volunteers find themselves.

To our Volunteers

It has been a long and eventful journey for you. You have conscientiously used your months of training to prepare yourselves for two years of service in Mauritania and to embody the core beliefs of the Peace Corps.  In doing that, you will give technical support to the Mauritanian people and contribute to better mutual understanding between our two peoples.

As you go on to your assignments, remember that what you do and how you do it are of first importance.  It will reflect not only on your personal commitment but also on that of the entire American people.

I have always been a great supporter of the Peace Corps and its mission.  We tend to think of diplomacy as the relations between embassies and foreign ministries, discussions between presidents.  But in today’s world it is much more, it is the communication between people and cultures.  As you go out to your assignments, you will be the true Ambassadors of the United States.  You will make friends and meet people who will form their image of America through you.  You kindness, commitment and respect for their culture will reflect the image we would like to be the image of the United States.  Your ambassadorship will not end when you finish your assignment.  Instead you will return to the United States as ambassadors for Mauritania – able to share with your fellow Americans the kindness of the people, the strength of their commitment to development, and the beauty of their religion and culture.

Ladies and Gentlemen

I would like to particularly thank the Ministries of National Education; Health; Agriculture and Husbandry; Energy and New Technologies; and Women’s, Children and Family Affairs for their help to our new volunteers.  Their assistance has been indispensable to our success.

Thank you.

Kaédi, September 6, 2007‏

Dennis Hankins,
Chargé d’Affaires, United States Embassy in Mauritania