U.S.-LESOTHO RELATIONS TODAY

Ambassador Robert Loftis

ROTARY CLUB OF MASERU

FEBRUARY 19, 2002

 Lumela, bo m’e le bo ntati.  Thank you very much for inviting me here today to talk about the state of relations between the United States and the Kingdom of Lesotho. I am very honored to have been chosen to represent the United States to the Kingdom of Lesotho.  My family and I very happy here, and have been very impressed with the warm welcome we have received.  Never have we felt more at home so quickly.

 As ambassador, I have four key priorities.  The first, which is incumbent upon every American ambassador no matter where they are assigned, is to protect American citizens abroad.  My Lesotho-specific priorities are to help the kingdom consolidate its hold on democracy, to promote economic growth and development, and to fight the scourge of HIV/AIDS.  These last three are so closely intertwined that it is impossible to say that one is more important than the other.

Before I discuss in more detail these priorities, let me put them into a larger context.  One always hears diplomats describing bilateral relations between two countries as “excellent.”  In the case of Lesotho and the United States, that is no cliché.  We maintained an embassy here when so many others left in 1994 because we believe that there is no substitute for personal contact.  That policy has proved its worth many times over, as the United States and Lesotho share many of the same views and perceptions of the world.  With that opening, let me say a few words about each of my priorities.

 As ambassador, I have an obligation to protect American citizens abroad.  In the wake of the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, that responsibility has grown even stronger.  As you may know, I arrived to take up my duties here on September 19, 2001, just eight days after the attack.  I was sworn in as Ambassador on September 12, the day after the attacks.   We were very moved by the expressions of sympathy and support that came from the government and people of Lesotho, and we appreciate the moves the government has taken to improve our security at the embassy.

  Certainly, Lesotho is no haven for international terrorists.  But, as the perpetrators of the September 11 demonstrated, there is no part of the world that can be considered safe from their reach.  Our job here is to keep Americans as fully informed as possible about potential threats to their safety and how to counter them.  Locally, we intervene when necessary with the police to ensure that they are taking appropriate action to pursue any criminals who have attacked our citizens here.  And if an American runs afoul of the law here, we work to ensure that they are afforded the same legal protections and rights as any Basothan.

 Turning to more Lesotho-specific concerns, I don’t have to tell you about the events of 1998: most of you were here and many of you suffered the consequences.  As of now, the Prime Minister has not announced the date of new elections, but he is expected to do so as soon as parliament is dissolved after it finishes the budget.  I want to be emphatic on one point: the United States has no preferred candidate or vested interest in who wins this election.  Our sole concern is that the elections be conducted in a free and fair manner, that they reflect the will of the Basotho people, and that everyone accepts the outcome.  Any dispute must be settled peacefully and within this country’s legal framework.  It is our hope that these elections will solidify the progress toward national reconciliation that began after the disturbances in Maseru and other major towns.  You may ask why the United States even cares about what happens in a far-away country in Africa.  On a philosophical level, we believe that democracy is the best form of government, one to which all people are entitled and the best guarantor that government will respect the human rights of its citizens.  We also believe that American interests are served in a world in which countries are democratic and economically prosperous.  This means that Africa must become integrated fully into the world economy.  The unfortunate reality is that many people tend to look at Africa as a monolithic whole: setbacks in one country or region reflect poorly on all of Africa.  Conversely, a successful election in Lesotho will counter those who argue that progress is not possible in Africa.  Success begets success, and we want Lesotho to be in the vanguard of the movement toward democracy.

 Of course, for democracy to take a firm hold, people must also believe that they have a personal stake in the country and its future.  That’s hard to do when there is little chance of a meaningful job or support for one’s family.  I am very proud of the effect that the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) has had in Lesotho.  This piece of legislation opens the vast American market to over 2000 African products duty free.  In Lesotho, that has meant the creation of over 15,000 new jobs in the textile and garment industry since April 2001, for a total of over 40,000 employees in the sector.  The government expects that number to double in the next year or so.  For the first time in this country’s history, the number of people employed in the industrial sector exceeds the number of working in the public sector.  The United States is now Lesotho’s largest export market, and we would like to see a greater variety of goods from Lesotho sold to the United States.  We’d also like to see other markets opened to African products.   You should be clear that AGOA is not a subsidy or guarantee.  As the name of the Act specifically states, it is an opportunity.  Exporters still have to meet the demands of the American market place, including quality control and timely delivery of orders.  The point is we think Africans can compete as equals in the global economy, and this act offers the window to do so. 

Finally, no discussion would be complete without addressing the devastating scourge of HIV/AIDS.  The truth is that any progress we make on developing Lesotho’s democracy and economy will easily be undone if we don’t stop the ravages of this disease.  You know the numbers: UNAIDS now estimates that 30 percent of the sexually active population of this country is infected.  That means that as many as one third of us in this room today could be carrying the disease.  You are probably dealing with the consequences in your workplaces: increased employee absenteeism due to illness and the need to attend funerals, greater health insurance costs, more turnover and hence more retraining.  In the large society, the effects are horrendous.  A growing number of AIDS orphans, the loss of trained and skilled workers, grandparents who should be enjoying their last years now forced to bring up their grandchildren after enduring the agony of watching their children waste away and die before them.

 This has been a very broad brush of relations between the United States and the mountain kingdom.  I could talk for quite some time, but I suspect you have questions of your own.  I’d be happy to take any of your questions, not just on U.S./Lesotho connection, but on U.S. foreign policy in general.  Thank you very much.