The introduction of political pluralism often quickly led to bad results.
I am in favor of complete freedom of information and of free access to the new communication tools in particular the Internet.
The resources of our continent attract more than ever the interests of rich countries.
Certainly Africa accounts for only l % of world trade and we cannot assure our development on our own.
It is not right to associate the fight against international terrorist networks with an imaginary crusade against Islam.
It is up to African leaders to show their will and political courage in order to assure that this new pan-African institution becomes an efficient instrument and not a place for endless discussions.
If the Soviet Union and the United States have not experienced direct military confrontations on the other hand they supported armed and trained Africans to fight other Africans.
In short we have among African countries a duty of solidarity.
The birth of the African Union should encourage us to reexamine relations between African States.
It is important to stress: Africa is also a victim of the September 11 attacks.
But since independence Gabon is one of the few countries in Central Africa that enjoys peace and stability.
Economic sanctions rarely achieve the desired results.
Do not forget that the Arab countries starting with Algeria and Egypt are the ones that have paid the heaviest toll because of Islamic terror.
I'm not aiming for the Nobel Peace Prize!
For about ten years now the struggle for democracy and the respect of human rights has been in the focus point - if not a commodity - of political groups aiming to rise to power.
The world is now aware that the most unavoidable and most dangerous weapon that exists is the blind decisiveness of a man ready to sacrifice his life for an obscure cause.
In brief Western democracy as other political models is not exportable to all regions of the world.
The principle of responsibility and collective sanctions is incompatible with the Western concept of justice.
Globalization far from putting an end to power diplomacy between States has on the contrary intensified it.
We do not control the trade of our resources which are an important factor of prosperity for the dominant nations.
The shock caused by the September 11 events has also lead to a thorough reflection on the existing disparity between rich and poor countries on the misery of populations of the South.
Because the world is in economic recession which worsened since this drama happened and our country will bear the burden of all of these consequences.
There is an idea of democracy produced by one-sided thinking.
Instead of ideological objectives of a political nature today we are faced with ideological objectives of economic nature.
The free market economy is supposed to be the only path leading to the happiness of humanity by promoting wealth and prosperity power and influence of nations.
Information on the Internet must be as free as in the newspapers.
But the Western countries that link their partnership with the poorest countries with respect for democracy also have to consider that they have obligations towards these countries.
The most powerful State in the world which up to now was relatively protected from terrorist violence is no longer an inviolable sanctuary.