French president visits Madagascar

PARIS, July 21 (UPI) -- French President Jacques Chirac arrived in Madagascar Thursday in a bid to shore up bilateral relations and participate in a regional Indian Ocean meeting.
Chirac's two-day visit to Madagascar, one of the world's poorest countries, comes at a time of improved relations between France and its former colony.

Ties eroded in 2002, when Paris was one of the last Western countries to recognize the legitimacy of President Marc Ravalomanana, following contested elections.

While France is Madagascar's top aid provider and trading partner, other countries -- notably Germany -- are making investment inroads into the Indian Ocean country.

Chirac, representing the French overseas department of Reunion, will participate in the Indian Ocean Commission summit, scheduled for Friday, along with heads of state from Madagascar, Comoros, Mauritius and Seychelles.

Copyright 2005 by United Press International. All Rights Reserved

COMOROS-MADAGASCAR-MAURITIUS-SEYCHELLES: Inter-island summit to strengthen ties and economies

JOHANNESBURG, 21 July (IRIN) - A two-day inter-island summit in Madagascar is expected to further strengthen ties among five Indian Ocean countries in their battle against growing economic marginalisation.
Host President Marc Ravalomanana, presidents Azali Assoumani of the Comoros, James Michel of the Seychelles, and newly elected Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam of Mauritius are attending, with French President Jacques Chirac representing Reunion, a French overseas territory. At least 1,000 participants are expected at the meeting, which kicks off on Friday.
This will be the Indian Ocean Committee's (IOC) third heads-of-state summit since the group was founded in 1984. The first was held in Madagascar in 1991 and the previous one in 1999 on Reunion.
Despite various attempts at boosting inter-island economic integration, domestic political upheavals, especially in the Comoros and Madagascar, have sabotaged these efforts. The Comoran archipelago has seen more than 21 coups since independence in 1975, while a tussle over Madagascar's presidency in 2002 almost crippled its already fragile economy.
Mauritius has long been a leading exponent of an Indian Ocean zone of cooperation, even though it has favourable trade links with France and Britain. However, the relatively well-off country finds itself facing economic uncertainty after the European Union (EU) earlier this year announced it would drastically cut the price paid for sugar imported under a quota system. Stiff competition from Chinese textile companies has added to its economic woes.
"Since this is a high-level meeting, we expect some concrete steps will be taken to ensure economic relations among the islands are strengthened. Mauritius, as one of the IOC founders, has always thought that we need to look for solutions to our economic problems among us. The meeting will also emphasise strengthening our regional cultural identity," Mauritius foreign affairs deputy director for cooperation, Dev Phokeer, told IRIN.
The five island nations have certain features in common: all have been colonies or protectorates of either Britain or France, have multiethnic populations, and a variety of religious faiths.
Apart from looking for regional strategies to boost economic growth, island leaders are to meet separately with EU officials for talks on development and aid.
The tiny Comoros archipelago - one of the world's poorest countries - relies heavily on external assistance, but years of political instability have led to a dramatic drop in foreign investment and donor interest. France has expressed its willingness to assist with development since a federal government was established in 2004.
Bacar Salim, a senior official in the Comoran Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said, "It is hoped that discussions with the EU will yield some good economic partnerships because, as a small poor country, we really need a boost. Without access to more economic opportunities and financial assistance it will be difficult for us to recover from our political problems."
In January a UN-sponsored conference in Mauritius shone the spotlight on the numerous challenges facing Small Island Developing States, and noted that trade liberalisation had severely battered their fragile economies over the past decade. Although there was consensus that international support was vital to accelerated development, delegates stressed that regional island groupings could do more to enhance their economic stability.


21 Jul 2005 18:59:33 GMT
Source: IRIN

United States, Madagascar sign ag accord

WASHINGTON - Iowa farmers will likely benefit from a recently-signed Food For Progress agreement between the United States and Madagascar.

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns and Madagascar's Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Harison Randriarimanana, signed the agreement and a memorandum of understanding to enhance the agricultural trade and technical assistance between the two countries.

The Food for Progress agreement, valued at $10 million, will provide Madagascar 15,000 metric tons of soybeans, 3,000 tons of wheat and 500 tons of nonfat dry milk that will be sold by its government. The proceeds will be used to establish a national agricultural statistics system, strengthen agricultural regulatory policies and commodity standards, conduct a school milk program in rural villages and provide farmer training in cooperatives, marketing and credit.

The Food for Progress program provides for donations of agricultural commodities to needy countries to encourage economic or agricultural reforms that foster free enterprise. This year, USDA expects to donate more than 300,000 tons of U.S. commodities, valued at around $125 million, to 16 countries under the Food for Progress Program. The supply period for this donation to Madagascar is September-December.

Source: The Daily NonPareil Online

Madagascar, à l'honneur pour la qualité de son cacao

L’Académie Française du Chocolat et de la Confiserie a décerné, le 2 juin 2005 à Paris, son Prix annuel aux planteurs de Cacao de douze pays, dont Madagascar.
A cette occasion, fut notablement souligné par les organisateurs la qualité exceptionnelle du Cacao malgache, Madagascar, certes petit producteur, se distinguant par cette spécificité, grâce à laquelle des chocolatiers de très grande renommée tels que " Cluizel " (dont la gamme de chocolats noirs et au lait avait été élue meilleur chocolat lors du Salon International du Chocolat au Carré du Louvre à Paris en 2004) et " Valhrona " fabriquant des produits de luxe prisés dans le monde entier par les consommateurs.
Le Prix a été reçu par Monsieur l’Ambassadeur de Madagascar en France et constitue un fort encouragement pour les planteurs malgaches. La cérémonie de remise constitue une étape supplémentaire de la politique de promotion menée en France par l’Ambassade de Madagascar. A cet égard, et en prolongement, elle a encouragé la venue à Madagascar, du 12 au 23 juin 2005, d’une mission économique regroupant une vingtaine de chocolatiers français et belges organisée par l’Université du Chocolat, laquelle a pu rechercher et conclure des accords de partenariat avec les professionnels malgaches du Cacao et a pu visiter les plantations principales du pays.
On rappellera que 95% de la production du Cacao dans le monde est le fait de petits planteurs, lesquels méritent assurément une meilleure rétribution, l’attention de l’ICCO de Londres et de l’IOCCC de Bruxelles devant particulièrement être attirée à cette fin, cette donnée économique devant également s’ajouter à une nécessaire éthique commerciale et à la défense, dans ce secteur comme dans d’autres, de la notion d’économie durable. Rappelons, à cet égard, la trop grande dépendance du cours mondial du cacao aux bourses de New-York et de Londres qui conduit actuellement à ce que le planteur ne reçoit en moyenne que l’équivalent de 0,40 centimes d’Euro par kilo de cacao marchand, ce qui constitue une injustice certaine.
Tant les opérateurs que les consommateurs ont donc un intérêt commun à ce que la filière Cacao connaisse un développement durable par une action concertée.


Source : Madagascar Tribune 14/07/2005

JOHANNS ANNOUNCES TRAVEL TO CHINA AND AFRICA

Discussions To Focus on Expanding Agricultural Trade and Development

WASHINGTON, July 9, 2005 - Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns will travel to China and Africa July 9-21 for multilateral and bilateral meetings on agricultural trade and development. Johanns will periodically post a travel log to the USDA website to record his impressions, experience and progress from meetings with foreign leaders.

"When I became Secretary of Agriculture, I pledged to be an advocate at the negotiating table for America's farmers and ranchers," said Johanns. "This trip presents important venues to expand market access available to U.S. farm products by enhancing our economic ties with trading partners across the globe."

While in China, Johanns will participate in the July 11 meeting of the U.S.-China Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade (JCCT) in Beijing, along with U.S. Trade Representative Rob Portman and Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez. The JCCT serves as an important forum for Cabinet-level officials from both countries to resolve trade concerns and enhance economic opportunities and cooperation.

Johanns will then travel with U.S. Trade Representative Rob Portman to Dalian, China to meet with approximately 30 trade ministers from World Trade Organization (WTO) member nations to advance negotiations toward a successful multilateral trade agreement at the WTO Ministerial in Hong Kong this December. Johanns will also use the meeting as an opportunity to meet with counterparts from Japan and South Korea to discuss reopening their markets to U.S. beef and other issues.

Since accession to the WTO in December 2001, China has become one of the most rapidly growing markets for U.S. agricultural export's, with exports tripling from $1.7 billion to $6.1 billion in 2004. Today, China is the fifth largest market for U.S. agriculture exports, and the largest for soybeans, cotton, hides and skins. China's continued economic growth has the potential to drive a continued demand for U.S. agricultural products, emphasizing the importance of ensuring U.S. market access by removing trade barriers.

In Africa, Johanns will travel to Antananarivo, Madagascar July 14 to July 16 to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with Harison Randriarimanana, Madagascar's Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries that will lay the groundwork for cooperative activities between the United States and Madagascar. Madagascar is the first Millennium Challenge Corporation Recipient Country. Johanns will be the first cabinet member to visit the island nation off the eastern coast of Africa and will be meeting with President Marc Ravolomanana to further enhance U.S. economic ties with Madagascar.

From Madagascar, Johanns will travel to Dakar, Senegal, to lead the U.S. delegation at the fourth U.S.-Sub-Saharan Africa Trade and Economic Cooperation Forum (AGOA), July 18 to July 20. The AGOA Forum will bring together U.S. officials, government ministers from the 37 AGOA-eligible countries in Sub-Saharan Africa and hundreds of U.S. and African business and civil society stakeholders to enhance political and economic ties. The theme for the forum is "Expanding and Diversifying Trade To Promote Growth and Competitiveness."

AGOA provides trade preferences and technical assistance to countries that are setting an important example on the African continent by progress in economic, legal and human rights reforms. By building stronger trade partnerships between businesses in the United States and Sub-Saharan African countries, AGOA demonstrates that governments that encourage development are more likely to achieve political stability and economic growth.

For updates on Johanns' trip to China and Africa, go to the USDA website at http://www.usda.gov, where a link to the Secretary's travel log will be featured, along with photos and news releases.

The cryptic past of Madagascar

Human inhabitants of Madagascar are genetically unique

Half of the genetic lineages of human inhabitants of Madagascar come from 4500 miles away in Borneo, while the other half derive from East Africa, according to a study published in May by a UK team.



The island of Madagascar, the largest in the Indian Ocean, lies some 250 miles (400 km) from Africa and 4000 miles (6400 km) from Indonesia. Its isolation means that most of its mammals, half of its birds, and most of its plants exist nowhere else on earth. The new findings, published in the American Journal of Human Genetics, show that the human inhabitants of Madagascar are similarly unique - amazingly, half of their genetic lineages derive from settlers from the region of Borneo, with the other half from East Africa. Archaeological evidence suggests that this settlement was as recent as 1500 years ago - about the time the Saxons invaded Britain.

"The origins of the language spoken in Madagascar, Malagasy, suggested Indonesian connections, because its closest relative is the Maanyan language, spoken in southern Borneo," said Dr Matthew Hurles, of the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute. "For the first time, we have been able to assign every genetic lineage in the Malagasy population to a likely geographic origin with a high degree of confidence."


"Malagasy peoples are a roughly 50:50 mix of two ancestral groups: Indonesians and East Africans. It is important to realise that these lineages have intermingled over intervening centuries since settlement, so modern Malagasy have ancestry in both Indonesia and Africa."

The team, from Cambridge, Oxford and Leicester, used two types of DNA marker to study DNA diversity: Y chromosomes, inherited only through males, and mitochondrial DNA, inherited only through females. They tested how similar the Malagasy were to populations around the Indian Ocean. The set of non-African Y chromosomes found in the Malagasy was much more similar to the set of lineages found in Borneo than in any other population, which demonstrates striking agreement between the genetic and linguistic evidence. Similarly, a 'Centre of Gravity' was estimated for every mitochondrial DNA to suggest a likely geographical origin for each. This entails calculating a geographical average of the locations of the best matches within a large database of mitochondrial lineages from around the world.

"The Centres of Gravity fell in the islands of southeast Asia or in sub-Saharan Africa," explained Dr Peter Forster, from the McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research, University of Cambridge, one of the co-authors. "The evidence from these two independent bits of DNA supports the linguistic evidence in suggesting that a migrating population made their way 4500 miles across the Indian Ocean from Borneo."

The striking mix suggests that there was substantial migration of people from southeast Asia about 2000-1500 years ago - a mirror image of the migrations from that region into the Pacific, to Micronesia and Polynesia, that had occurred about 1000 years earlier. However, unlike the privations suffered by those eastward travellers, the data suggests the early Malagasy population survived the voyage well, because more genetic variation is found in them than is found in the islands of Polynesia. 'Bottlenecks' in evolutionary history, where the population is dramatically reduced in number, are a common cause of reduced genetic variation.

Even though the Africa coast is only one-twentieth of the distance to Indonesia, it appears that migrations from Africa may have been more limited, as less of the diversity seen in the source population has survived in Madagascar.

But why, if the population is a 50:50 mix, is the language almost exclusively derived from Indonesia?

"It is a very interesting question, for which we have as yet no certain answer, as to how the African contribution to Malagasy culture, evident in biology and in aspects of economic and material culture, was so largely erased in the realm of language," commented Professor Robert Dewar, of The McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research, University of Cambridge. "This research highlights the differing, and complementary, contributions of biology and linguistics to the understanding of prehistory."

The population structure in Madagascar is a fascinating snapshot of human history and a testament to the remarkable abilities of early populations to undertake migrations across vast reaches of ocean. It may also be important today for cutting edge medical science.

"There has recently been dramatic progress in the development of experimental and statistical methods appropriate for gene mapping in admixed populations," said David Goldstein, Wolfson Professor of Genetics, University College London. "To succeed, however, these methods depend on populations with well defined historical admixtures. This work shows provides compelling evidence that the Malagasy are such a population, and again shows the value of careful study of human population structure."

Our human history is a rich mix of peoples and their movement, of success and failure. Madagascar holds an enriching tale of the ability of humans to survive and to reach new lands.


This article is originaly from The Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute

"United states of Africa"

«L'idée des Etats-Unis d'Afrique n'est pas un rêve»


L’idée a été lancée par le leader libyen Mouammar Kadhafi. «Ce n’est pas un rêve, mais bel et bien une réalité qui interpelle tous les Africains à oeuvrer en vue de sa concrétisation», a estimé le président de la commission de l’Union Africaine (UA), Alpha Oumar Konaré. «L’Afrique a besoin d’intégration. Aucun pays africain ne pourra prospérer en dehors d’une Afrique unie et forte.»
Le président de la République de la Grande Jamahirya arabe libyenne Populaire et Socialiste a fait les choses en grand pour recevoir ce Vè sommet ordinaire de l’UA, qui se tient sur le bord de la mer de Syrte-Libye. Le sommet qui dure deux jours - 4 et 5 juillet 2005 - réunit les 54 pays membres, dont Madagascar.
De l’aéroport à la Cité construite spécialement pour recevoir des délégations de hauts dignitaires étrangers, des slogans souvent incitatifs démontrent combien le président libyen est déterminé dans sa lutte dictée par une foi : les Etats-Unis d’Afrique. Citons entre autres : «L’Afrique ne s’allie qu’avec elle-même» ; «Halte à la ...;«La mendicité ne construit pas l’avenir de l’Afrique. La solution est ici et non ailleurs.» «Non aux frontières, non aux douanes, non aux aides étrangères.»...
A son arrivée à l’aéroport, tôt hier matin, le président Marc Ravalomanana a été reçu selon les rangs et a eu droit au tapis rouge. Il séjournera donc dans un des logements de la cité, portant la photo de son locataire.
Pour en revenir au sommet, il faut savoir que le leitmotiv du grand Fateh est de sortir l’Afrique du joug des aides étrangères. La Libye représente d’ailleurs une certaine force, sinon une force certaine, de fait qu’elle est le premier pays africain producteur du pétrole. Mais aussi parce que, même si 99% de son territoire n’est que dunes et désert, elle a démontré que la persévérance peut produire une prévalence dans le domaine économique. Comme la culture d’olives et de dattes, une autre force économique du pays, voire une fierté.
Soulignons qu’une dizaine de journalistes malgaches font partie de la délégation présidentielle pour couvrir l’événement africain, ainsi que le Secrétaire général de la Présidence, Rakotondramboa, «Chief of staff »Henri Roger Ranaivoson, et le chef de la diplomatie Marcel Ranjeva qui a reçu le Président Ravalomanana sur place.
=================================
Déclaration de Syrte: Propositions non négociables
Les ministres africains des Affaires étrangères ont élaboré samedi à Syrte, des projets de déclaration et de résolution sur la réforme des Nations Unies; et qui ont été soumis aux chefs d’Etat dès l’ouverture du Vème Sommet ordinaire de l’UA, hier.
Le projet de déclaration insiste sur cinq principes que l’Afrique n’aimerait négocier à aucun prix dans la perspective de la réforme de l’ONU. Il s’agit de sa représentation permanente, pour la première fois, au Conseil de Sécurité avec tous les privilèges; y compris le droit de veto, ainsi que le renforcement du leadership de l’Assemblée générale; organe le plus représentatif et le plus démocratique du Système des Nations Unies.
Les autres principes concernent le renforcement du secrétariat général dans le sens d’une plus grande efficacité; l’octroi a l’ECOSOC d’un statut de mécanisme central de coordination des activités des agences spécialisées du système onusien, et enfin la démocratisation effective des institutions de Bretton Woods.
Quant au projet de résolution, il est présenté comme une feuille de route pour l’Afrique dans ses négociations à venir avec les autres groupes régionaux du monde; Il préconise l’augmentation de 15 a 26 membres au total du Conseil de sécurité, un niveau de requête qui a déjà fait l’objet d’un consensus au sein des Non-Alignés à Durban en Afrique du Sud.
Ambition: entrer dans la Cour des Grands
Le président de la Commission de l’organisation continentale Alpha Oumar Konaré a déclaré que l’Afrique «a le droit» de disposer d’un siège permanent au Conseil de sécurité; devant lui permettre de jouer pleinement son rôle qui lui échoit sur la scène internationale.»Toute réforme de l’ONU doit prendre en compte l’importance de la place qu’occupe actuellement le continent africain à l’échelle internationale, en raison entre autres du nombre important des voix qu’il compte au niveau de l’Assemblée générale», affirme-t-il. Pourtant, les pays d’Afrique; continent qui tient à obtenir une présence plus importante, surtout une meilleure représentation, ne semblent pas parvenir à un consensus sur cette question, notamment les critères de désignation et la formule de représentation au sein de cette structure.
«Nous sommes en faveur d’un siège permanent qui doit être accordé à l’Union Africaine et non à un pays quelconque du continent» a souligné pour sa part le ministre libyen Abderrahmane Chalgam. Les propos du chef de la diplomatie libyenne viennent confirmer que l’Afrique avance bel et bien sur le chemin de l’intégration.
Sommet sollicité par des candidats
L’Allemagne, le Brésil, l’Inde et le Japon, candidats à un poste de membre permanent du Conseil, ont envoyé ensemble une importante délégation à Syrte, pour présenter au Sommet africain le projet de résolution qu’il soumettront à l’Assemblée générale de l’ONU au mois de septembre à New York. Dans cette résolution, les quatre pays proposent que deux sièges soient attribués à l’Afrique; n’indiquant pas les noms des deux pays afin d’éviter de susciter des rivalités. La démarche vise à obtenir le soutien de la cinquantaine de pays africains à cette résolution de facon qu’elle puisse être adoptée par la majorité des Etats membres de l’ONU qui doit passer de 15 à 25 membres.
Actuellement; le Conseil de Sécurité est composé de 15 Etats membres parmi lesquels 5 membres permanents-USA, France, Chine, Russie et Royaume Uni – seuls disposant du droit de veto. Selon la réforme proposée, les nouveaux Etats au Conseil ne disposeront pas du droit de veto. Par ailleurs, les Etats-Unis sont contre l’entrée des Etats africains dans cette instance, de même qu’ils sont opposés à l’entrée de l’Allemagne considérant que l’Europe y est déjà représentée par la France et le Royaume uni.
On rappelle que l’Union Européenne s’est déjà prononcée en faveur de l’entrée d’au moins un pays africain au Conseil de Sécurité de l’ONU.


05/07/05 - Volana (Syrte)

Stop begging, Africa leaders told

Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi has told other African leaders to "stop begging" for Western charity.
He was speaking at the start of an African Union summit ahead of the G8 summit of the world's rich and powerful nations in Scotland.

Africa's leaders are expected to set out their views on trade and aid.

Colonel Gaddafi thanked British PM Tony Blair for his "enthusiasm" for Africa. But he told him "we are not beggars at the doorsteps of the rich".

Africans did not like all the conditions the West attached to aid, Colonel Gaddafi said in a 30-minute speech which received muted applause from African leaders.

"If you give a poor man money, you don't ask him to change his clothes or the way he prays."

Praising African leaders for making progress on democracy, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan announced the creation of a UN Democracy Fund to help poor countries prepare and hold elections.

He said that "almost all" of the countries represented at the summit in the Libyan coastal town of Sirte were committed to holding elections.

Zimbabwean opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai has criticised African heads of state for failing to condemn President Robert Mugabe saying it is damaging their "credibility" with G8 leaders.

US President George W Bush insists that Africa must improve its governance and democratic accountability if it is to benefit from debt relief and more aid.

Fighting poverty

The 53-nation African Union has already reached a consensus agreement to press for two permanent seats on an expanded UN Security Council.


It is a lifetime's work where we empower the people of Africa and the developing countries to make decisions for themselves
Gordon Brown
UK Chancellor of the Exchequer
Trade and debt relief for Africa will be discussed by Western leaders at the G8 summit at Gleneagles, starting on Wednesday.
There is a real sense that the three-year-old union - which succeeded the Organisation of African Unity - is finally coming of age, says the BBC's Mike Donkin.

The AU is looking to have its own ministries of foreign affairs, defence, trade and others.

There has also been discussion of opening up borders between states with the creation of an African passport, but this is far from agreed.

Africa is also keen to have its own standing army ready to go to trouble spots at a moment's notice.

And it wants to set up its own financial fund so that aid and grants allocated by organisations like the World Bank or the European Union can be spent faster and not just sit in Western coffers, our correspondent says.

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/africa/4647579.stm

Published: 2005/07/04 16:18:12 GMT

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