afternoon and welcome. my name is byron mel kind. professor,unct former international bureau chief for the associated press in the 107th president of the national press club. [applause] no need to applause. the national press club is the world's leading professional organization for journalists committed to our profession's future through our programming with events such as this while fostering a free press worldwide. for more information about the national press club, please visit our website at press.org. on behalf of our members worldwide, i would like to welcome our speaker and all the

guests of our speaker at the head table and in the audience. i would like to remind you that our head table includes guests of our speaker as well as working journalists who are club members. if you hear applause and our audience, i note the members of the general public who are , it is not from a lack of journalistic objectivity. also want to welcome our c-span and public radio audiences. you can follow the action on #ander using the hashtag pclunch. -- #npclunch. now it's time to introduce our head table guests. will standeach one briefly as their names are announced.

from your right, -- one minute, please. from your right, retired former managing editor national geographic magazine. please hold your applause. etti.en loreng [applause] boussa founder and president of "africa today" which launches its operations on tuesday, august 5. i am also pleased to introduce mr. moussa as a new national press club member. a. jean-jacques bui minister of infrastructures.

margaret ryan, north american course fondant, interfax energy london. rated it -- -- wait a minute, we double check everything. the minister is minister of small and medium businesses and handicrafts and former minister of trade. donna, reporter for "u.s. today" and vice chair of the national press club speakers committee and former president of the national press club. next to her, between her and the claudiat is sassou-nguesso who is helping

with our translation today and help plan this lunch. skipping over our speaker for a moment, tony cerise, director of academic seminars, the washington center for internships and at an event -- and academic seminars. gilbert, state minister economy and finance. [applause] and ceooup, president of the world affairs council it consulate --st world affairs consulate. last year, the new york times listed the republic of congo on its list of 46 places to visit for its remarkable safaris, the

world's second-largest tropical rain forest, and its rich culture. but beyond the tourist attraction, our guest today, president dennis sassou-nguesso, has for many years made stability, modernization and industrialization his priorities in the republic. if you know my progress in the last 10 years has led to the cancellation of large amounts of deaths -- amounts of debt through the international monetary fund that has allowed the country dedicate larger stages of its budget to infrastructure development than it has been able to invest in any other time in the republic's history. president sassou-nguesso's current term will end in 2016. term is focused on a new hope to bring peace and stability to the republic after years of unrest and civil war.

in his latest term, his focus has been on the path to the future to attempt to invest in aging infrastructure, further reduce the still high rate of poverty and to pursue efforts in peace building and predicting human rights. he also looks to resolve conflicts and promote peace and development throughout the area. president sassou-nguesso joins us today in advance of next week's u.s.-africa summit with president obama who visited last summer and highlight america's commitment to africa's security, systemic democratic commitment and its people. president sassou-nguesso joins the ranks of others in speaking at the national press club, including many u.s. presidents, nelson mandela, nikita

khrushchev, fidel castro, and mahmoud ahmadinejad. the press club is known as where news happens. i would like to thank the world affairs council for partnering with us today to bring president sassou-nguesso here today. please join me in welcoming president sassou-nguesso here to the press club. [applause]

>> madame president of the world , mr. president of the national press club, i thank you for the honor you have extended to me in inviting me to in this you today hallowed hall. you must allow an african voice, mine in this particular instance, to be heard and to communicate with the american people on a major subject, an issue that is universal in its very nature in peace and security. the universal nature of peace and security is in itself obvious and undeniable.

rooseveltfriend when -- president franklin roosevelt had broken so correctly with such insight when at the beginning of the second world war he stated "wherever peace is broken, it is the entire world that is threatened." distinguished guests, ladies and still in, today, europe, the middle east and asia ,nd latin america and in africa people are at each other's throats. the bombs that fall stifle the voice of men.

[speaking french] we ponder the question of peace and security in central africa. this is a region of the where mye of course own country is found, the republic of congo. in speaking here today, i will highlight three main points. refer toall, i will the state of affairs in central africa in general, underscoring a number of actions undertaken by the congo in its contribution to the resolution of conflicts and the consolidation of peace and stability in the region.

evoke thei will multidimensional air of the security challenge in africa. -- andand in conclusion thirdly, and in conclusion, i friendship, invite america to deepen its links with sake ofor the bolstering our respective interests. now ladies and gentlemen, let me begin by giving you a clear idea of the african region that we will be talking about this afternoon. central africa is at the very heart of the african continent. it links the north and the south.

it spreads from the gulf of guinea to the great lakes region. it offers significant natural resources on its surface and underground. the tropical forests of the congo basin represent 250 million had her's -- 250 million hectares, 40% of the overall african region, and constitutes in fact the planet's second ecological lung. variousafrica includes countries. all these countries represent

5,500,000 -- 6 million square kilometers and a population of some 150 million, mostly very young people which certainly is a great advantage for the region. one of its greatest access -- assets. most of the countries of central africa are at peace but it is nonetheless threatened by the persistence of conflicts in the central african republic and to its east by that in the central african -- the democratic republic of congo. terrorism, piracy and other forms of violence remain a constant concern. the deep reasons for this

insecurity and conflict in central africa and everywhere in africa, in fact, are quite diverse in nature. let me try to run down some of the basic elements we would have to consider. certainly, the lack of jobs, the absence of hope in the for a, the ongoing search , the armedt by conflicts who seek to destroy natural resources, exclusion, frustrations that are born of inequitable and unfair distribution of natural wealth. the absence of state institutions or extreme weakness of the same, electoral problems that come from ethnocentric

claims in ongoing cleavages of professional or religious in nature, also moral and ethnic values and certainly world is your clinical struggles that are being carried out on african soil. so madame president, mr. president, ladies and gentlemen, that is the background. let me now look at the security situation in central africa as i see it. first, we have the situation in east of the drc, which has been explosive for a very long time. it is less sentence -- it is less intense than it once was but requires ongoing vigilance. second, the more recent phenomenon of piracy on the seas in the gulf of guinea which has become extraordinarily worrisome. terrorism that reaches

toward the south of the continent and that has outbursts in a number of different localities. i can mention here the boko nigeria in its grip and is trying very hard to extend its tentacles to cameroon and the central african republic in the next few days if one does not watch it. the lord resistance army of joseph kony that president in the drc and in uganda. the sociopolitical and security crisis that central african republic has been facing. and thiss worrisome despite numerous initiatives

undertaken for peace and security by the community of central african states, the african union itself, the european union, united states and the united nations. the lack of security and grave violations of the rights of man are rampant. it is estimated that somewhere between 10% and 20% of the 4 million citizens of central africa have been displaced because of the current crisis picture, letgrim us pinpoint a few glimmers of hope. nairobi,ber 2013 in and 23, which was rooted in the east the democratic republic of began abandoning conflict

and began adopting a law of amnesty. at the same time, in the eastern region of the drc, the farming of the combatants of the ugandan liberation army and the fdl are, the uganda rebels are ongoing. the central african republic, my own country, congo serves ash international mediator as established by the african union and the united nations has posted the 21st, 26 and 23rd of july an intro -- an intro central african dialogue. this is the first stage in the process that will deepen in

central africa itself. conflict came and signed a treaty of cessation of hostilities. even if, as we have learned this morning, there aren't always those who are eager to break the cease-fire. there have been a few instances of combat to the north of bangui and a number of deaths were noted, 20 civilians. these glimmers of hope show the sense of african initiatives toward the preservation of peace. the african institutional framework that has been set up to promote peace and security is without question the main reason

for hope. the first element of that institutional framework that i would like to point out is the peace architecture. the architecture for peace and which aims torica ensure the prevention of conflict and to ensure solution of these via operational instruments that are being prompted by state. we are talking about an african force that stands at ready. a second element, a second instrument of that framework is the economic reference packed for the common defense of the african union adopted in abuja in nigeria in 2005. this was an initiative initially of the republic of congo. and it is the first line of defense in the case of conflict.

that is our last instrument. it would become operational in 2015. neededobilization where needed beyond this institutional framework for peace and security -- there are various regional mechanisms for peace and security that have also been set up and i would like to mention a few of these here. we have the council for peace and security of the central african states. pact for peace, stability and development in the great lakes region. frameworklso the agreement for peace and security and cooperation in the drc and the great lakes region. ladies and gentlemen, let me come back now to the actions that my own country, the congo, has undertaken in this contest.

i would like to point out here that we have been unstinting in our efforts for peace and stability and security in africa. in south africa, under apartheid, indoor for -- in darfur, in the great lakes region, in all of these places, the congo has always been present and made its presence help in a construction -- in a constructive manner in the promotion of peace, security and national reconciliation. in the case of south africa under apartheid, i am very pleased indeed to see here cohen.ador we worked quite closely and agreed him and i am pleased to see him here. also, undersecretary hooker.

toether, we worked very hard bring south africa, angola and cuba together. we worked for the retreat of cuban troops in angola and namibia. but a few of the areas in which we elaborated. to illustrate, i will speak briefly about specific action my country has undertaken in the drc and in the central african republic. in the democratic republic of congo, my country plays the role of facilitator in the national dialogue, ringing the main political factions together. in the central african republic, the congo is contributing in various forms toward a search for solutions for conflict. amongst others, we sent a

thousand men to participate in the peacekeeping contingent cosponsored by the african union and the un security council. the congo is also the mediator between the armed conflicts and the opposing political forces. my country has also offered a loan to the central african state in order to ensure at least minimal functioning of its public administration. gentlemen, whatever the presence or the intensity of armed violence and terrorist threats, we can never forget the thatother challenges africa must face and take up in order to ensure its security in the long term.

this brings me precisely for the second main point in my speech to you today. that is the multidimensional character of our security challenge. as independent nations that we are, most african countries are .nly about 50 years old relative youth for us africans cannot excuse any mistakes or weaknesses on our part. believe toseful i bear it in mind in the overall historical perspective that i believe we must take. on the like to insist the timeemember element, the dimension in terms of history that our young

african countries offer. in factoil that we live is very much the cut and thrust, the ups and downs of our adolescence, as it were, of our --ng adulthood, as a word, as it were, as emerging nations that we are, as states that are becoming full-fledged, of institutions that are consolidating of democracies that are seeking maturity, of economies that are emerging. so the notion of security i believe must be put in the context that goes beyond the question of defense and one that addresses the viability itself of our state. this is how i believe we must task the matter in terms of our

broader political, economic and social development. as i mentioned earlier, the lack of security is often a very result of a number of problems that converge, most especially poverty and injustice. poverty is without russian the first factor in lack of security . and all of this must be looked at in the face of the enormous challenge that africa has to construct simultaneously in terms of our nation, of the state, of democracy, of the rule of law, and of governance. certainly try to urge our partners to be a little more , at a minimum level, at least more realistic and pragmatic. and there i say little more humble in their assessment of our young nation. -- the concept of

the nationstate so firmly rooted in the philosophy and political culture of europe is a recent idea in africa. arbitrary manner in which the continent was carved up and the subsequent colonization has turned our countries into fragmented ethnic entities. and so, dear friends, your country has two major political parties and other groups that you may be surprised our african societies have hundreds of parties. can you imagine how hard that is? how can we foster a multiparty approach while at the same time guarding against careless ethnic religioushat can be a

or regional origin? how can we safeguard the integrity of our fragile states and the unity of our young nations when we face centrifugal from a mistakem clinical usage of pluralism and a mistake in the usage of democracy itself? the burgeoning of lasting democracy something that will take time, that is laborious, that is intensive. it is something that the people themselves must carry out as they will following the rhythm of their own drum. history is full of studies of this sort. the i cast my mind back to 1789, and i look back to the emerging french revolution under

fraternity,iberty, and equality, we know that women certainly didn't get the vote. by the way, they got it after world war ii. so sometimes good things take time. stability and a minimum of order certainly is essential to security. this is what will anchor a climate in which freedom and economic and social progress will flourish. to paint a picture of the security situation in central africa, one that encompasses the very notion of security that must necessarily address the challenge of the democratization and development, i would like now to go to my

third and last point in this set of remarks. and here i will hone in on the expectations of africa as to its cooperation with the united states of america. ladies and gentlemen, i call for , aeepening, dare i say re-grounding of relations between africa and the united states of america. andeems to me that africa the usa are two continents that ignore each other rather than recognizing everything that should bring them together. this time to change anomalous state of affairs. and specifically to that end, i give to america five propositions. first, i invite the united states to intensify the training

and he would king of african defense forces so that africa is in a position to ensure its own security. that is part one. secondly, i invite the united states to work with the whole of africa. i have saidecause at some points that president obama has spoken at certain countries that have been chosen. i say it is the whole of africa that should be the partner, not just the handful of countries. , of course, africa being aware of prejudice were any certification or

element. of anti- the fieldrtnership in of education between africa and the united states, because the best universities in the world. i asked the u.s. to support and accompany our efforts to consolidate integration in africa. i invite the united states to become more present also in african economic affairs, now quite competitive. this country was so celebrates the spirit of competition, should surely face it where ever it may come from. a very. will find place,nt and reductive perhaps a pride of place in africa which offers such promise

and is rightly described as the continent of the future. distinguished guests, i would like to conclude these remarks by offering the three following messages. the necessary buttressing of security in africa is essential, not only for itself, but for its building partners. second, security in africa is a matter much vaster than military security alone. it is multidimensional. america has a, great deal to offer africa. but it also has a lot to receive from africa. madame president of the world affairs council, esther president of the national press club, distinguished

guests, ladies and gentlemen, let me thank you very much for your kind attention. [applause]

>> thank you very much for your speech. le now will have our traditiona question-and-answer session. we are just a few days away from the u.s.-africa leader summit. what do you think this gathering will achieve? well, i think i expressed that expectation in the five propositions that i made. let me certainly begin by stating that it is a deep honor for us to lead with president obama. we thank him for convening the

summit in the framework of his ongoing efforts. but in terms of my expectations, per se, i really some them up in the general remarks i offered and the five proposals i made toward the end. >> thank you. the african governments and the united states have a serious economic ownership that will allow for broader economic development and lower unemployment. what more needs to be done? >> well, in a brief answer, i would simply say that the sensen continent is in a the hope of the world. isy have said that this

africa century -- africa's century. if we look at things closely and follow everything that analysts and observers say, it would appear that the set of measures that african leaders have taken and the growth that is registered in the continent, the potential that is offered at present in africa, that would be true. i spoke of the wealth that africa has on its surface and underground, but i also spoke of its people. analysts say that by 2050, there will be 2 billion inhabitants in africa. this is the continent of the future, we believe. and a great powerhouse, i believe, as the united states itself is very that is my deepest conviction.

>> recently, the republic of congo mediated a cease-fire between factions at war and the central african republic. what is the status of that agreement? what more needs to be done to end the violence? >> we believe that, after three days of intense discussion where all parties were present, the agreement to sign an agreement to cease hostilities is certainly noteworthy. that was certainly the first step forward. all friends of the central african republic should certainly bolster the decision

and help the country to respect its decision and stand by its commitment so that the organization of the state can in fact occur. the state in central african republic is quite weekend and needs help. we also need to ensure that the free flow of people and goods occurs within the four quarters of the central african republic. helpf this will certainly the ngo's and other friends that are so inclined to come and lend a helping hand within the country and in the neighboring countries. i think above all, this should for the way populations, the people's that were in strife for religious

achieve a reasons to meeting of the minds, to come together yet again. we know the christians, the got alonghe others very well and lived in peace for many years. therefore, square one had to be a cessation of hostilities. without it, it would be frankly quite difficult to imagine the holding of elections in the central african republic. i think a key part of the willions taken recently have to be rooted in the further work they have accomplished within the country all with efforts toward reconciliation. and eventually, a large vehicle couldreconciliation forum be held in bondi itself where all could participate. i urge all friends of the central african republic to rally round and help us see that

they. a logic of peace and reconciliation. and i think it is offering some hope as it did in brazzaville. >> turning the subject to a subject that is on page 1 on newspapers around the world, it seems inevitable that ebola will spread. have you or do you tend to meet with other african heads of state to create a comprehensive regional plan to address the disease? and what is congress plan to deal with a bullet if the virus spreads -- with ebola if the virus spreads? >> well, we have already had to face that challenge twice. epidemic has struck us.

this is not something that may happen. it has already occurred. i believe that one faces such circumstances, it is essential that draconian measures be taken asrender the area affected secure as possible, to sanitize as best as possible the general area and avoid the spread of the epidemic. as i say, we have in the past had to struggle with this specter. and at the time, we took draconian measures here in we isolated the area. we offered treatment to those who were afflicted and we eradicated the epidemic. not long ago, just before taken the plane to come here, my good friend was on the phone with me.

i wanted news because, of course, there is a great deal of president ind they meetingand guinea our to discuss the very thing you're a i do believe they are considering very serious this as to try to stop best they can. certain and you are yourself, i'm sure, the entire international community must lend a hand during this is bigger than all of us. domestically, congo has had robust economic growth. the latest imf report from congo was positive. tell us how you plan to invest more of congo's wealth to improve the health, education, and economic welfare of your citizens.

>> let me say that, with regard to education, our country has been very, very strict about improving the enrollment of children at schools. and has always been at the top of the list of countries doing most to that end. we are at 100% of enrollment of kids in school. wherever children are in my country, they go to school. official education is offered free until the age of 16,. so free public education through the age of 16 to youngsters

everywhere, wherever they are. from six years of age to 16 years of age. i think it is a fair point to say without exaggeration that, when we take a look at the state of our budget, this is a considerable achievement. about 25% during i am talking a fourth of our budget is earmarked for education. and we are strengthening the system. all right, we have 100% l rohm and that is fine and well. but now we are looking at the quality of the level. we are training the trainers, putting great efforts and improving the school infrastructure. there is a lot to be done. we are at present building high schools in every one of the country, of our

including charter schools, high-caliber, excellence level high schools. and we are building a university in brazzaville. our country has always made store by education. >> what are you doing to improve the private sector in the country to make it less dependent on the west and more self-sustaining? >> let me say first that the government has been taking significant steps to improve the creates environment to an enabling business environment less red tape, less bureaucracy.

our minister of finance is here. he always knows that i am very clear on how much i insist on him doing what he can to avoid the mushrooming of levees and access ring's that make our businesses ever more difficult. we also have with us our minister of small and medium-size enterprises. they can tell you that we are very much aware of how critical enabling aster, business environment for small and medium-size enterprises, to set up a single window at the customs level, the one-stop shop as the color. and the government above and beyond that is setting up a fund , a guarantee find, -- a

guarantee fund to assist the small and medium enterprises of the private sector to get going and to grow strong. this guarantee fund, we hope, will help the young particularly who are entrepreneurs, who have something to give, who are interested in doing something to get the necessary loans from lending a citizens under the overall guarantee fund that the government is now offering to that end get let me say something to our external partners. the borders of the republic of congo are wide open and we have seen how business partners have come to us from very far away, as far away as australia and certainly europe, the united states, and are active in various sectors of our economy and we are all in favor of that. we are pleased to see it because

it will spur the development of andsmb's and -- our the sectors of oil and iron ore and phosphate and numerous other important industries that exist in our country. at the government level, we have set clear guidelines, set a clear course for the next 15 years such that a major in theent will be made industrialization and modernization of the country. our vision of industrialization will be certainly also based on industryopment of agro and agriculture, both. >> you have been in office a lengthy period.

according to term and age limits set forth in your country's current constitution, your second and final term as resident ends in 2016. there is talk of efforts to amend the constitution to allow you to serve a third term. do you support these efforts? if successful, will you seek a third term? you have to realize that we are getting ready for our own american presidential election in a few years where there are term limits. a number of people are inquiring about your future plans. >> on the matter of isstitutional reform, there ongoing discourse in my country on the subject. that is no secret. and people are debating

legitimately whether this makes whether the constitution should be reformed, not so much let me say because of me personally. the issue has to do with the limits that are set in the constitution. this is not a question of one or another person. it is truly a constitutional issue. so the debate is being held. it is a free debate and people are giving the matter some thought. should the constitution be reformed to allow a further mandate? that is something that the people of the republic of congo themselves will have to decide. and then there will have to be a referendum to that effect.

so it is entirely up to them. it will in any event be the people itself that will speak out. this cannot be in any way something that flows from any one individual who desires to cling onto power. this is a bigger and broader question. it's an open question and one that really has to do with our visage -- thee vision that the country has of itself. so we will see you where it takes us. remarks, itroductory mentioned how you are devoting your government to protecting human rights. nevertheless, there are some human rights organizations, such as amnesty international and freedom house, who feel there are still restrictions on press freedom, the rights of assembly, and the rights of free expression.

as you answered a previous question so thoroughly, i wonder if i can ask you what will you do to continue that such freedoms in your country? well, these freedoms exist. i spoke earlier of countries in have numerous different political parties. i think in the case of the wego, 4 million inhabitants, say, i think 150 political parties at last count, give or take. established,ally

formally incorporated political parties that carry on their activities as they see fit. there are trade unions that are freely established and are certainly very free and conduct their business as they see it. the press is perfectly free in my country. in a sense a mecca for the press. pass --n't any freer freer press than the press and the congo. there is a law that has been voted upon in parliament that protects journalists. no journalist can be arrested or thrown into prison for his or opinion. the freedom of the press, freedom of speech are absolutely guaranteed by law in the republic of congo. if 150 political parties are connecting -- are conducting

their business freely and ieedom of the press, too, don't know a single person who has been detained for his or her opinion. say.go's are free, as i there is freedom of assembly, freedom of speech. i think it is a reach to think that there is a limit. i think there is quite abundant freedom, at least as far as i can tell. >> i thought it was important to ask the question and i am pleased you gave a very detailed answer. we are almost out of time. before asking the last question, we have a couple of housekeeping matters to take care of. first of all, i would like to remind you of our upcoming events and speakers. on monday, august 4, his excellency jacob zuma, president of south africa come a will be our guest of honor on the 20th anniversary year of mensa mel nella speaking at the national press club as president.

and i am pleased to have with us today such distinguished guest, his excellency, ibrahim is will, africa.ident of south on september 17, john t stump, ceo of wells fargo will be with us. september 19, larry werner, president and ceo of cbs corporation. stay tuned for more speakers planned by our speakers committee for the remainder of the year. to presentwould like you, sir, with their traditional national press club mug, which we are always pleased to do with our distinguished leaders. i know you may have other mugs, but this one is very special. [laughter] and i would like to ask -- [applause] look at the photographer.

anyuld like to ask journalists who interview president sassou-nguesso in his office to report if they do not see the mug there. [laughter] tea inll take my morning this mug. thank you very much. [applause] thank you. our final question is generally in a lighter mood but this is a question not meant to be light or serious but a real practical issue. how often is your country confused with the democratic republic of congo and how do you answer, how do you handle such errors? >> what? country,ten is your the republic of congo, confused

with the democratic republic of congo and how do you handle these errors? >> how often? all the time. and we would like very much for the drc to become zaire again. that should do it. [laughter] [applause] i wondered whether i should ask that question. i'm glad i did. thank you so much, your excellency. and thank you for all for coming today. [applause] and thank you again to our partners in the world affairs council, d.c.

we are adjourned. >> please return your receivers outside. >> speeches by the candidates running for the u.s. senate seat in kentucky. aboutthat, a discussion conspiracy theories and their impact on national security. the annual fancy farm picnic was held today in kentucky. i'm the speakers, republican senate leader mitch mcconnell grimes.son other speakers included steven beshear and senator brand paul. it comes courtesy of kentucky educational public television.