Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am honored to be here tonight and I want to thank you first of all for such a strong response to our invitation to attend this presentation by Mr. Christophe Aubin-Nury. Your presence testifies to the interest you give to the activities of the American-Mauritanian Business Council (CAMA) and to the topics which will be debated during this meeting.

We will hear a presentation on “Democracy, good governance and economic prosperity.” I think that these topics will interest you because they come at a time of major importance.

The foundations of a free economy depend on personal choice, free exchange, and open markets. It is manifest that freedom of exchange and market coordination permit economic growth.  Without exchange and without business activities coordinated through markets, it would be difficult to attain modern living standards.

As you know, we are entering a crucial and determining phase of the transition.  We have less than two weeks before the legislative elections and several months before the presidential election.  There are many things to do before declaring the success of the transition. But I remain particularly confident on this subject, because the will of the people and authorities is clear.

However, one should not lose sight that the work which must be completed after the elections is important and will be determining for the future of the country in all fields. All sectors of society, public and private, will be put to the challenge.

The priorities of the new government will be:

o To maintain efforts aimed at transparency and good governance;
o To resolve problems specific to Mauritanian society;
o To define relations with the military and their role in a democratic context;
o To create a modern legal system;
o To expend the necessary efforts to promote stability and prosperity.

The business community also has a share of responsibility in the realization of these objectives laid down by the new government and in the success of the same. It has an important role to play. The business community must require of its government an environment which will create a climate of confidence; one that is fair, equitable and honest. The rules of “transparency” must be applied to all sectors and “good governance” will be complemented by “good management.”

Thank you again and I hope you have an enjoyable evening.

Steven Koutsis,
Chargé d’Affaires of the United States Embassy in Mauritania

November 6, 2006