Ambassador Efird's Remarks at the New US Embassy Building Dedication
October 13, 2005
I would like to thanks the presences of Mr. Jeronimo Wanga, Deputy Speaker of the Angolan parliament,
Her Excellency Albina Assis, Special Advisor to the President,
Joaquim Duarte Pombo, who has kindly offered to join me in the podium and make few remarks,
My distinguish predecessor, Ambassador Cris Dell,
And of course General Williams, who is the director and chief operating officer of Overseas Building Operations of the Department of State,
I also welcome the other distinguished members of the Angolan government, the national assembly, the supreme court, senior members of political party, senior religious leaders, members of civil society, my fellow Ambassadors, colleagues and most importantly friends.
Seated with me this morning and in the audience are the members of our wining team, including the coach of the team, General Williams. This wining team may not be going to the world cup – Parabéns aos Palancas!!! – but there are individuals who made this beautiful building. I wonder if those people who have worked on the building, from OBO, from ABB, Suzan and many construction people, who happened to be here, if you could please stand up and or just stand forward a little bit. Thank you for your hard work!!! (applauses)
For me this building is just more than bricks and mortar. As I said many times, this building is a symbol. I think it is a symbol of rebuilding in this country. It is a symbol that this country is successful being rebuilt and it is also a symbol of the work of the United States of America in this country and of the strong relationship between the United States and Angola.
Since 2002, the United States Government has contributed well over $4, 00.000.000.00 para o povo Angolano. Around you today there are a number of posters that show a few of our programs in action. The work we do with the Ministry of Health on malaria, on HIV-AIDS, programs to strengthen political parties and civil society, our cooperation with the Ministries of Finance, Social Reintegration, MINARS, our work with Universities in Luanda and elsewhere in the country and our close collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs, which are believe it is making a significant contribution to regional as well as international peace. These highlight our dedication to work and to help Angola. These contributions as well as this new building are symbols that we are a credible partner, that we are dedicated to a strong and healthy Angola.
I have been privileged to witness first hand the reconstruction of Angola. Not only here in Luanda, where we see on the rise of so many cranes, constructing and rehabilitating buildings but also from Ondjiva, to Cabinda city, to Luena, to Benguela, and also in innumerous small villages. Those people who have traveled with me to those villages have watched metal works, replace ….straw and bricks replace … clays
Angola is slowly rebuilding and our new embassy compound is another symbol that Angola reconstruction is underway. During my introduction I carefully placed the word friends at the end. This word was chosen not give difference to a few close professional, personal contacts to the American business representatives here , there are our friends, but I used the word friends to draw to the many strong relationships that the United States and its people have with the Government of Angola and its people. I am pleased to stand here today I can use the word friends, knowing that it indeed symbolizes my government relationship with Angola. Beyond mere words, this new embassy building stands as an emblem of that relationship. In both Luanda and Washington DC , there are embassies that showcase our national pride and our commitment to a strong and lasting friendship.
Symbolism when carefully crafted can have a powerful presence. This building is just that. A carefully crafted, power presence symbolizing our commitment to Angola. We are committed to our cooperation with Angola. We are committed to the reconstruction of Angola and we are committed to friendship with Angola. Thank you!
