Obama returns to Africa (Granma, June 27, 2013)

Havana, Thursday, June 27, 2013. Year 17 / Number 179
Obama returns to Africa
The U.S. president will visit Senegal, South Africa and Tanzania from June 26 to July 3

DALIA GONZALEZ DELGADO

"African blood runs through my veins, my family history encompasses both the tragedies and triumphs of the larger African story." That was said by Barack Hussein Obama during a brief stay in Ghana in 2009.

BARAK OBAMA WITH HIS KENYAN GRANDMOTHER, SARAH.

Four years later, accompanied by his wife Michelle and their two daughters, he returns to the continent of his father, a Kenyan Muslim to whom he owes his life and name. But of course, this visit to Africa isn't for family reasons.

Analysts agree that Obama's agenda will focus on trade and investment, to try to compensate for the role won by China in Africa.

The tour, which will last a week and could cost a hundred million dollars, includes meetings with the leaders of Senegal, South Africa and Tanzania, a country where Chinese President Xi Jinping visited last March .

"We're going to be left behind in a very important region of the world," admitted Ben Rhodes, White House deputy national security adviser .

As Africa "becomes an increasingly attractive market, we expect to increase exports to the continent," said Mike Froman, the United States Trade Representative, who will accompany Obama on the trip.

So far the president has not had "financial space" to do great things with Africa, or the "enthusiasm" which was shown by two of his predecessors, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, said Jennifer Cooke, director for the continent of the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).

Recently the Brookings Institution, one of the so-called American think tanks, published a report entitled The five main reasons why Africa should be a priority for the United States.

According to the paper, Washington is "giving" that market away to "companies from China, India, Brazil, Russia, Turkey and the European Union".

"The lack of attention to business opportunities comes at a time when the region is poised for economic takeoff the text emphasizes. Six of the ten fastest growing economies in the world (according to the International Monetary Fund, 2001 to 2010) are in sub-Saharan Africa, and a middle class of 350 million people almost rivals that of China and India ".

The tour of the White House chief does not include Kenya, a country where he still has relatives. Said Obama , his uncle, said the family always wants to welcome him, but understands that his nephew represents U.S. interests.

Many thought that good things could happen with the arrival of the president, but that has not been the case, said a U.S. media outlet. "Do not blame him, that's U.S. foreign policy, and we just have to accept that that's the way it works".

In his first official stop, Obama will meet Thursday with his Senegalese counterpart, Macky Sall. While in South Africa, he will also meet with President Jacob Zuma, and will participate in a dialogue with young people at the University of Johannesburg. There had been speculation about a possible visit to Nelson Mandela, but these rumors were dismissed by the Foreign Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane. As for Tanzania, Obama will meet with President Jakaya Kikwete, and business leaders.

		Havana, Thursday, June 27, 2013. Year 17 / Number 179 Obama returns to Africa The U.S. president will visit Senegal, South Africa and Tanzania from June 26 to July 3 DALIA GONZALEZ DELGADO "African blood runs through my veins, my family history encompasses both the tragedies and triumphs of the larger African story." That was said by Barack Hussein Obama during a brief stay in Ghana in 2009. BARAK OBAMA WITH HIS KENYAN GRANDMOTHER, SARAH. Four years later, accompanied by his wife Michelle and their two daughters, he returns to the continent of his father, a Kenyan Muslim to whom he owes his life and name. But of course, this visit to Africa isn't for family reasons. Analysts agree that Obama's agenda will focus on trade and investment, to try to compensate for the role won by China in Africa. The tour, which will last a week and could cost a hundred million dollars, includes meetings with the leaders of Senegal, South Africa and Tanzania, a country where Chinese President Xi Jinping visited last March . "We're going to be left behind in a very important region of the world," admitted Ben Rhodes, White House deputy national security adviser . As Africa "becomes an increasingly attractive market, we expect to increase exports to the continent," said Mike Froman, the United States Trade Representative, who will accompany Obama on the trip. So far the president has not had "financial space" to do great things with Africa, or the "enthusiasm" which was shown by two of his predecessors, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, said Jennifer Cooke, director for the continent of the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). Recently the Brookings Institution, one of the so-called American think tanks, published a report entitled The five main reasons why Africa should be a priority for the United States. According to the paper, Washington is "giving" that market away to "companies from China, India, Brazil, Russia, Turkey and the European Union". "The lack of attention to business opportunities comes at a time when the region is poised for economic takeoff the text emphasizes. Six of the ten fastest growing economies in the world (according to the International Monetary Fund, 2001 to 2010) are in sub-Saharan Africa, and a middle class of 350 million people almost rivals that of China and India ". The tour of the White House chief does not include Kenya, a country where he still has relatives. Said Obama , his uncle, said the family always wants to welcome him, but understands that his nephew represents U.S. interests. Many thought that good things could happen with the arrival of the president, but that has not been the case, said a U.S. media outlet. "Do not blame him, that's U.S. foreign policy, and we just have to accept that that's the way it works". In his first official stop, Obama will meet Thursday with his Senegalese counterpart, Macky Sall. While in South Africa, he will also meet with President Jacob Zuma, and will participate in a dialogue with young people at the University of Johannesburg. There had been speculation about a possible visit to Nelson Mandela, but these rumors were dismissed by the Foreign Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane. As for Tanzania, Obama will meet with President Jakaya Kikwete, and business leaders.
		La Habana, jueves 27 de junio de 2013. Año 17 / Número 179 Obama vuelve a África El presidente de Estados Unidos visitará Senegal, Sudáfrica y Tanzania desde el 26 de junio hasta el 3 de julio DALIA GONZÁLEZ DELGADO "La sangre de África corre por mis venas, la historia de mi familia comprende a la vez las tragedias y los triunfos de la más amplia historia de África". Eso dijo Barack Hussein Obama durante una breve estancia en Ghana en el 2009. BARACK OBAMA WITH HIS KENYAN GRANDMOTHER, SARAH. Cuatro años después, acompañado por su esposa Michelle y sus dos hijas, regresa al continente de su padre, un keniano musulmán a quien debe su vida y su nombre completo. Pero por supuesto, esta visita a África no tiene motivos familiares. Analistas coinciden en que la agenda de Obama estará centrada en el comercio y las inversiones, para tratar de compensar el protagonismo ganado por China en el continente africano. La gira, que durará una semana y podría costar unos cien millones de dólares, incluirá reuniones con los líderes de Senegal, Sudáfrica y Tanzania, país donde estuvo en marzo pasado el presidente chino, Xi Jinping. "Nos vamos a quedar atrás en una región muy importante del mundo", reconoció Ben Rhodes, consejero adjunto de Seguridad Nacional de la Casa Blanca. Mientras África "se convierte en un mercado cada vez más atractivo esperamos aumentar las exportaciones al continente", subrayó por su parte el representante de Comercio Exterior de Estados Unidos, Mike Froman, quien acompañará a Obama en el viaje. Hasta ahora el presidente no ha tenido "espacio financiero" para hacer grandes cosas con África , ni el "entusiasmo" que mostraron dos de sus predecesores, Bill Clinton y George W. Bush, opinó Jennifer Cooke, directora para el continente del Centro de Estudios Estratégicos e Internacionales (CSIS). Recientemente la Institución Brookings, uno de los llamados Tanques Pensantes estadounidenses, publicó un informe titulado Las cinco principales razones por las que África debe ser una prioridad para Estados Unidos. Según el documento, Washington está "cediendo" ese mercado a "empresas de China, India, Brasil, Rusia, Turquía y la Unión Europea". "La falta de atención a las oportunidades comerciales llega en un momento en que la región está preparada para un despegue económico —subraya el texto—. Seis de las diez economías de más rápido crecimiento en el mundo (según datos del Fondo Monetario Internacional del 2001 al 2010) se encuentran en África subsahariana, y una clase media de casi 350 millones de personas rivaliza con la de China y la India". La gira del jefe de la Casa Blanca no incluirá Kenia, país donde aún tiene parientes. Said Obama, su tío, dijo que la familia siempre desea darle la bienvenida, pero comprende que su sobrino representa los intereses estadounidenses. Muchos pensaron que cosas buenas podrían ocurrir con la llegada del presidente, pero no ha sido el caso —declaró a un medio de prensa norteamericano—. "No le echo la culpa, esa es la política exterior de Estados Unidos, y solo tenemos que aceptar que esa es la forma en que funciona". En la primera parada oficial, Obama se reunirá este jueves con su homólogo senegalés, Macky Sall. Durante su estancia en Sudáfrica, además de encontrarse con el presidente Jacob Zuma, participará en un diálogo con jóvenes en la Universidad de Johannesburgo. Se había especulado sobre una posible visita a Nelson Madela, pero los rumores fueron descartados por la ministra de Exteriores, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane. En cuanto a Tanzania, Obama se entrevistará con el presidente, Jakaya Kikwete, y con líderes empresariales. http://www.granma.cubaweb.cu/2013/06/27/interna/artic02.html