David Dunn tells Senate committee he would encourage political, economic reform
Speaking before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee October 6, U.S. Ambassador-designate to Togo David Dunn said that if confirmed, he would encourage Togo's new president, Faure Gnassingbe, to "build upon initial efforts to reach out to his political opponents."
In the wake of former President Eyadema's death in February and the ensuing violence surrounding subsequent elections, "thousands of Togolese fled Togo and currently are living in refugee camps or among the general population in the neighboring countries of Ghana and Benin," Dunn said. He said he would encourage the new government of Togo "to work toward their prompt repatriation and to create an environment that includes the disparate views of all the people of Togo, including through the empowerment of a free and open press."
He saluted Togo for being "among the first African nations to open itself to multiparty democracy" and said he would encourage the "new government to improve election legislation and processes [and] restore Togo's forward momentum toward political, judicial, and economic reform."
Dunn, who has served in six African countries in various capacities, also recognized the "devastating threat" posed by the HIV/AIDS epidemic and said he would "strive to ensure that our assistance in combating this debilitating crisis is utilized to maximum effectiveness."
Dunn's nomination must be voted on by the Foreign Relations Committee and then confirmed by the full Senate.
Following is the text of Dunn's prepared statement to the committee:
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David B. Dunn
Ambassador-Designate to Togo
Senate Foreign Relations Committee
October 6, 2005
Mr. Chairman, Senator Feingold, and members of the Committee, I am deeply honored to appear before you today as the President's nominee to be Ambassador to the Republic of Togo. I wish to express my appreciation to President Bush and to Secretary Rice for their trust and confidence in nominating me for this position. If confirmed, I will work with this Committee to promote democracy and human rights, to advance economic reform, and to improve good governance in Togo.
Mr. Chairman, President Eyadema's death in February 2005 provoked a constitutional challenge to succession in Togo and an election that by international standards was flawed. If Togo is to emerge from the crisis that began with President Eyadema's death, its new president, Faure Gnassingbe, must build upon initial efforts to reach out to his political opponents. In this regard, he will need to continue to work to gain the confidence of the citizens of his country by demonstrating that he intends to support a democratic government, that he eschews violence, and that he accepts the positive role that a genuine opposition can play.
Mr. Chairman, in the violence surrounding elections in April of this year, thousands of Togolese fled Togo and currently are living in refugee camps or among the general population in the neighboring countries of Ghana and Benin. The United Nations Human Rights Commission's investigation into the post-election period revealed the need to reassure those citizens of Togo that they can return to their country without fear of retribution. If confirmed, I will encourage the new Government of Togo to work toward their prompt repatriation and to create an environment that includes the disparate views of all the people of Togo, including through the empowerment of a free and open press. Along with our international partners, I will seek to encourage and support efforts of the new government to improve election legislation and processes so that upcoming legislative and local elections will gain the confidence of the Togolese people and be worthy of our respect.
Mr. Chairman, like many African countries, Togo faces the devastating threat of HIV/AIDS. Beyond the public health aspects of this pandemic, I have seen in my previous postings that HIV/AIDS represents a genuine national security threat to Africa, where human capacity is often the most precious resource. I will strive to ensure that our assistance in combating this debilitating crisis is utilized to maximum effectiveness. If confirmed, I also intend to build upon the efforts of my predecessors in encouraging the Togolese authorities to redouble their efforts to combat trafficking in persons to ensure that all women, men, and children within Togo are protected from this terrible form of abuse.
Mr. Chairman, in 1990 Togo was among the first African nations to open itself to multiparty democracy, a move we strongly supported. Today, even as many of her neighbors in West Africa have moved to consolidate their successes as free market-based democracies, the challenges of democratic and economic reform remain before Togo. If confirmed, I look forward to working with the leaders and people of Togo to regain the initiative and restore Togo's forward momentum toward political, judicial, and economic reform, so that they might enjoy fully the fruits of freedom.
Mr. Chairman, since I first joined the Foreign Service in 1978, I have served in six different countries in Africa, including as Ambassador to Zambia and Consul General in Johannesburg, South Africa. I also have held policy management positions in the State Department's Africa Bureau. In these assignments, I have worked closely with the members and staff of this Committee, a collaborative relationship I intend to continue if my nomination is confirmed. My non-African assignments have included service in Europe, the Caribbean, and the Near East.
I would like to thank you, Mr. Chairman, and the members of this Committee, for the opportunity to appear before you today. I would be pleased to respond to any of your questions.
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(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)