US Vice President Joe Biden to visit Kenya in his African tour

By John Harrington Ndeta,
NAIROBI, Kenya _ MAY 22_US Vice President Joe Biden will travel to Egypt, Kenya, and South
Africa the week of June 7, 2010, reliable sources have indicated. This is the same week when the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the global phenomenon will be officially opened in the African continent for the very first time.

While in Egypt, Biden will meet with President Mubarak to discuss a full range of bilateral and regional issues.

The US Vice President will afterwards jet into Kenya and meet with key leaders in Kenya, including Kenyan President Kibaki and Kenyan Prime Minister Odinga.

In addition to discussing a range of bilateral issues, Biden will address himself to shared Kenya and United States interests in peace and stability in the region, particularly in Sudan and Somalia.

Biden will proceed to South Africa, where he will meet with South African Deputy President Motlanthe, South African Foreign Minister
Nkoana-Mashabane, and other world leaders in attendance at the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa.  He will represent the United States President Barack Obama at the opening ceremonies of the 2010 FIFA World Cup and attend the US Men’s National Team’s first game.

Meanwhile the United States Ambassador to Tanzania Alfonso E. Lenhardt presented his credentials as US representative to the East African Community to EAC Secretary General Juma Mwapachu. The United States was the first nation to nominate an Ambassador to the organization, having submitted an accreditation request on 20 April.  Ambassador Lenhardt’s accreditation to the EAC, endorsed by the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania, expands U.S. engagement with the regional organization comprised of Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda.

US Vice President, Joe Biden

In his accreditation speech, Ambassador Lenhardt said the United States supports the East African Community's goals and lauded the organization for a focus on pragmatic policies aimed at improving the well-being of its citizens: "We consider regional integration to be a highly effective means of promoting prosperity through increased trade and investment.  In fact, we have pursued similar policies ourselves.

"With our two neighbors, Canada and Mexico, we entered into the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which shares key aspects with the East Africa Common Market."

The United States and EAC have already undertaken several joint projects in the areas of defense, aviation security and trade development. Ambassador Lenhardt said the United States will support EAC efforts to institute a Customs Union and establish a Common Market. The areas of collaboration include opening East African markets, harmonizing tariff structures, and improved revenue collection.

Regional economic integration will also stimulate greater U.S. trade and investment in the region: "One of the major barriers to trade between EAC members and the United States is the high cost of doing
business in the region. These high costs are in part due to unreliable transportation infrastructure, redundant bureaucracy, and the small size of most domestic markets. Implementation of the Customs Union and
an increase of One-Stop Crossings will lower the cost of transit and enable firms operating in East Africa to benefit from economies of scale."

Under the "Safe Skies for Africa" program, the United States is working to improve the effectiveness of the EAC's Civil Aviation Safety and Security Oversight Agency (CASSOA) to enhance and maintain
international aviation standards for airlines that carry businessmen, investors and tourists to, from, and within Africa.

Regional integration can also enhance East African security.  "We note that EAC member states are considering seriously the potential benefits of a formal Mutual Defense Protocol to promote collective
security.  A regional approach to security has worked well for my own country.  The North Atlantic Treaty Organization has long provided collective security for the nations of North America and Europe."

Ambassador Lenhardt spoke of a potential role for the EAC in the international effort to free the shipping lanes of the Western Indian Ocean from piracy.  He noted that, "It is a vital interest of all East African nations, including those in the interior that the region's trade is secure from threats posed by armed gangs operating in the waters off this region's coast."

Ends................................