AMBASSADOR'S SPEECHES

Remarks by Ambassador Aubrey Hooks
Opening of Yamoussoukro American Corner

Institut National Polytechnique Félix Houphouët-Boigny (INP-HB)
Yamoussoukro,

May 28, 2005

His Excellency President Laurent Gbagbo,
The Minister of High Education,
The Director General of Institut National Polytechnique Félix Houphouët-Boigny (INP-HB),
The Heads of Faculties,
Dear Students,
Distinguished guests:

It is a pleasure to be here at the Institut National Polytechnique Félix Houphouët-Boigny (INP-HB). This is an exciting moment for me. I am pleased to participate in this opening, and to share with you my vision of what the Yamoussoukro American Corner means for the mutual future of America and Côte d’Ivoire.

First, I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to President Laurent Gbagbo whose presence at this important ceremony shows the Ivoirian government’s support for this project. I would like to thank also the Director General, the heads of the Institute’s various departments, particularly the library and the staff, for their tremendous contributions to the opening of the Yamoussoukro 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 Corners are more than an ordinary library. American Corners are partnerships between the Public Affairs sections of U.S. Embassies and host institutions.

They provide access to current and reliable information about the U.S. via book collections, the Internet, and through local programming to the general public. An American Corner serves as an information outpost similar to a public library reference service. The multi-media, book and periodical collections are open and accessible. Associated reading or meeting rooms are made available to host program events and activities (DVC, films, speaker programs, workshops, meetings, and exhibits).
The fundamental function of the Yamoussoukro American Corner is to serve as a window on America through an Internet connection. Through its Internet access, the Yamoussoukro American Corner becomes a port of entry to the United States for information having to do with every aspect of American life, and interaction between individuals and their computers without regard for geographic location.

The first American Corner was launched on April 11, 2003 at the Center for Socioeconomic Research (CIRES) in Abidjan. We look forward to opening another one in Tiassalé. American Corners are built upon the core concept of partnership. They aim to provide a community service by giving everyone an opportunity to learn about the political, economic, cultural, educational, and social aspects of life in the United States. The overarching goals are to provide information on the United States and thus forge a lasting relationship between the people of Côte d’Ivoire and the American people.

The Yamoussoukro American corner with its educational advisor center is committed to active programs engaging local audiences at all levels:  The alumni grantees such as Fulbright, Humphrey and International visitors will share their experiences in the United States.  The Yamoussoukro American Corner will also serve as a bridge among the affiliated universities to encourage dialogue on issues such as HIV/AIDS, democracy, judicial system etc.

The selection of the Institut National Polytechnique Félix Houphouët-Boigny (INP-HB) Library is very appropriate: it serves other main cities in the region through information dissemination, as a research center, and most of all as an education center. As part of Institut National Polytechnique Félix Houphouët-Boigny (INP-HB), the Yamoussoukro American Corner will be open to everyone wishing to learn about the United States. We hope that the Yamoussoukro American Corner will serve as an intellectual asset to the Institute and other interested groups, students, the general public, NGOs, the media and the business community, not only from Côte d’Ivoire but also from countries in the West Africa sub region. We recognize that the Institut National Polytechnique Félix Houphouët-Boigny (INP-HB) student population is composed of citizens of from neighboring countries, and its departments boast distinguished scholars from many countries as well.

I am delighted to see you, as potential users, here today. The Yamoussoukro American Corner is now ready to welcome its first users, particularly President Laurent Gbagbo.

I hope the Yamoussoukro American corner will serve actually as a window on America – as a port of entry – for anyone who wishes to learn about U.S. history, culture, and institutions.  This is the next best thing to traveling to America to learn about it firsthand.

Thank you, and welcome.