Mr. Wali of Nouadhibou
Mr. Hakem of Nouadhibou
Mr. Mayor of Nouadhibou
Commander of the Nouadhibou Military Zone
Mr. Representative of the Ministry of Fisheries
Mr. Representative of the Ministry of Transportation
Military Officers
American Coastguardsmen
Ladies and Gentlemen

Let me say how pleased I am to be here today.  Not only because it is the first opportunity for me to visit Nouadhibou, a city unlike any other in Mauritania due to its location and economy, but because it also bears witness to the increasingly cooperative relationship between two partners committed to democracy, mutual respect, and improved security.   We applaud the efforts Mauritania has made to embrace democracy and enhance security for itself and its neighbors. 

We share mutual concerns that call for mutual solutions.  Transnational maritime threats like illegal fishing, piracy, illegal migration, drug smuggling, arms proliferation and environmental crimes are shared threats in the global economy of today, and as such we share the responsibility of working with international partners as part of a global effort to improve the overall maritime safety, security and stewardship interests we all share.  We know that criminal syndicates and terrorist organizations exploit the maritime link to further their evil aims.  In response, maritime security is necessary to ensure freedom of the seas, facilitate navigation and commerce, advance prosperity and liberty and protect the ocean’s resources.

To our Mauritanian compatriots

The training you have just completed on Counter-Narcotics Maritime Law Enforcement and Boarding Operations represents a key step forward in addressing these shared concerns.  This training has imparted a better understanding of international law, boarding procedures, search techniques, and how to identify narcotics. It will help Mauritania to better control its sovereign borders and fight the scourge of the drug trade.  It represents part of a larger United States Government effort to help improve maritime security and safety throughout this region.

You have worked diligently to learn the knowledge and master the techniques that will aid you in your important security mission. Your American colleagues have been impressed by your dedication and patriotism. Now and in the future, you will continue to play a central role in helping your nation stay on the path of democracy, peace, and prosperity that it has so willingly and bravely chosen.

To my fellow Americans

You, too, have played an important part.  The lives of duty and sacrifice you have chosen have taken you far from home. It is a burden you willingly bear and for this we are grateful.  You can take pride in knowing that you are helping to keep the seas freer and safer. By working side by side with our Mauritanian allies, you have demonstrated the best that America has to offer and have gained an appreciation and respect for the skills and knowledge that Mauritania can share with us.

In closing, I would like to thank all those officials, civilian and military, of the various ministries who have worked with our forces so cooperatively and so effectively.  The United States is firmly committed to assisting foreign nations improve security measures in their ports and national waters in accordance with the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code and other applicable international laws.  Mauritania has made as firm a commitment to do its part.  We know that we can count on their continued cooperation and partnership.

Thank you.

Dennis Hankins
Chargé d’Affaires of the United States Embassy in Mauritania

Nouadhibou
September 14, 2007