AMBASSADOR'S SPEECHES

Remarks by Ambassador Aubrey Hooks Tiassale American Corner Opening 

Ambassador Hooks opens the new American Corner and Tiassale Radio in the village an hour and half north of Abidjan.  (Folli Teko/US Embassy)

Tiassale, September 6, 2005

Tiassale, September 6, 2005

The Minister of Planning and Development,
His Excellency the Ambassador of Israel,
The Director of the United Nations Development Program,
The Prefect of Tiassalé,
The Mayor of Tiassalé,
The Director general of BNETD,
Honorable Traditional Chiefs,
The People of Tiassalé,
Distinguished Guests:
 
It is a pleasure to be here today in Tiassalé.  As I traveled again to this beautiful city, I reflected upon the remarkable similarities between Tiassalé and America.  Like America, Tiassalé is a melting pot, a mixture of different languages, different religions, and different cultures.  And like America, Tiassalé has citizens who believe in unity and in community.  It is therefore appropriate for America to show its friendship toward this extraordinary city today.  I am very pleased to participate in this opening, and to share with you my vision of what the Tiassalé American Corner means for the mutual future of America and Côte d’Ivoire.
 
First, I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to the Minister of Planning and Development, whose presence at this important ceremony shows the Ivoirian government’s support for this project.  I would also like to thank the Mayor of Tiassalé and his collaborators for their tremendous contributions to the opening of the Tiassalé American corner.  This project would not have been possible without their help and support.
 
Many of you may wonder, what exactly is an American Corner?  Let me take a minute and explain.  As the name suggests, an American Corner is a small corner within a library or some other location containing a collection of books and audiovisual material with information on the United States.  The Corner is more than an ordinary library.  An American Corner is a partnership between the Public Affairs sections of U.S. Embassies and host institutions.
 
Like public libraries, they provide access to current and reliable information about the United States via book collections, databases, and the Internet.  The multi-media, book and periodical collections are open and accessible.  What makes an American Corner special is that they also include associated reading or meeting rooms are made available to host program events and activities (digital video conferences, films, speaker programs, workshops, meetings, and exhibits). 
 
The fundamental function of the Tiassalé American Corner is to serve as a window toward America through media connections.  Through Internet access, books, and other materials, the Tiassalé American Corner becomes a port of entry to the United States.  Users of the facility can find information on the political, economic, cultural, educational, and social aspects of American life, regardless of their geographic location.
 
The first American Corner in Cote d’Ivoire was launched on April 11, 2003, at the Center for Socioeconomic Research (CIRES) in Abidjan.  The second was opened at the Institut National Polytechnique Félix Houphouët-Boigny in Yamoussoukro, on May 28, 2005.  I hope that the Tiassalé American Corner will serve as an intellectual asset to the professors, professionals, NGOs, media, and business community.  Most of all, I hope it will be a place that welcomes the young – from those just learning to read to those completing their education.  This Corner has a special room just for children where they can start to learn English and learn about the United States.  It also has materials for middle school, high school and college students about volunteerism, public service, and democracy.  The young people are the brightest hope for the future, and America extends a particularly warm welcome to them.  The overarching goal of this Corner is to provide information on the United States and thus forge lasting friendships and partnerships between the people of Côte d’Ivoire and the American people.
 
I am delighted to see you, as potential users, here today.  The Tiassalé American corner is now ready to welcome all of you.  I hope the Tiassalé American Corner will serve as a “port of entry” for anyone who wishes to learn about America.  Thank you, and welcome.