Presentation of Letters of Credentials for the new Ambassador of the United States of America in Guinea

Mr. Phillip Carter,III, the Ambassador of the United States of America in Guinea presented his letters of credentials to President Lansana Conté on the 8th of November 2007.

Phillip Carter was nominated by President Bush as Ambassador to the Republic of Guinea on the 15th of March 2007. He was confirmed by the Senate the 25th of May 2007 and was sworn in on July 11th, 2007. Ambassador Carter arrived at the Embassy in September 2007. Most recently, Mr. Carter was the Director of the Bureau of West African Affairs. Mr. Carter also served as the Deputy Director of the Bureau of East African Affaires in the United States Department of State.       

Prior to these assignments, he was the Deputy Chief of Mission at the United States Embassy in Antananarivo, Madagascar and the Deputy Chief of Mission in Gabon. Before his arrival in Gabon in 1997, he served as an international financial economist in the State Department's Office of Monetary Affairs in the Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs. During this period, he dealt with international debt and capital matters and served as the Department's point-person on International Monetary Fund issues with Africa.     

The Speech of the Ambassador of the United States of America to the President of the Republic of Guinea

Excellency, Mr. President of the Republic:

Mr. President, it is a pleasure to be working with you and your government. I am particularly excited to travel throughout your country to see its renowned natural beauty and to meet the men, women and children who make Guinea a special place in West Africa.

As you know, the centerpiece of diplomacy is communication.  In this context, I believe in the virtues of simplicity, clarity and honest.  I want to assure you that these virtues will characterize my dialogue with you and your government.  I also want to assure you that I will serve as a clear channel of communication between our two governments.

As I start my tenure as Ambassador, I would like to underscore for you, Mr. President, the basic tenets that will shape the activities of the United States of America over the next weeks, months and years.  First and foremost, I and my staff will stand ready to assist you and your government in the areas of democratization, good governance, economic development, and the promotion of human rights.  These four areas represent values common between our two countries and our two people.

My second tenet builds upon the first – I and the United States embassy will engage all elements of Guinean society – the government, civil society, political parties, the private sector and religious and civic leaders – to ensure that our bilateral dialogue is richer and that our assistance is tailored to the needs of your country.

Third, I and my team will operate in an open and transparent fashion so that we can foster greater understanding between our two countries. 

Mr. President, thank you for this audience and for the opportunity to convey my hope that I will be able, as Ambassador of the United States, to reinforce further the ties of understanding and cooperation between our two great countries.