Contact: In Benin: Sylvie Nenonene snenonene@worldbank.org (229) 9308-1663 Herbert Yusimbom Boh (229) 9528-0819 hboh@worldbank.org In Washington: Ana E. Luna Barros (202) 473-2907 aluna@worldbank.org Cotonou July 19, 2006 – World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz made the following statement today upon his arrival in Benin "Good morning! Mi fon gan djia? [meaning “How are you” the regular greeting in fon, one of Benin’s many local languages]. I think that’s the way you say it here. Mi fon gan djia? I am very happy to be in Benin, a country that is now an example of democracy and a peaceful transfer of power in Africa. It is a very important example, especially for West Africa which has seen too many conflicts in recent years. I had the pleasure of meeting your former President just a few months ago in Washington and he said if you come to Benin you can see me but I won’t be the president any more. And I am looking forward to seeing him as well as President Yayi, and to congratulate them both on the peaceful transfer of power. And I am here to hopefully develop a better understanding of the special problems facing this small country. For the World Bank Group, Sub-Saharan Africa is our first priority. It is our first priority because it is the part of the world that most needs our help. But that assistance, that help will only be effective if people take responsibility for themselves as the people of Benin are doing. Last week, I attended the summit of the so-called G8 countries in Saint Petersburg – the industrialized democracies. I told them that the countries of Africa, especially the two that I visited last week – Ethiopia and Tanzania – can make very good use of more assistance. And we talked particularly about working to fight infectious diseases, particularly malaria and HIV/AIDS. And during my visit here, although it is short, I hope to get a much better appreciation of what this country is doing in the battle against both of those epidemics. I am looking forward to meeting with President Yayi Boni and his team, as well as a broad range of representatives of civil society, development institutions and the donor community here in Cotonou. I will also be visiting Sierra Leone and Liberia in West Africa, countries that have recovered or are recovering from very severe conflicts, and I hope that the peacefulness of this country can be an example for them. Thank you! How do you say thank you? Mi do kpe ! Merçi beaucoup!"
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