Press Items

The Ambassador of the United States of America, Eunice S. Reddick, officially opened the first American Corner in Gabon at the Municipal Library in Port Gentil on Friday, March 6, 2009.  Also present at the ceremony were the mayor of Port Gentil, André Jules Ndjambé, and the governor of the Ogooué Maritime province, Jean-Marie Béka B’Obame, as well as representatives of American businesses located in Gabon, foreign diplomats, students, and representatives of civil society.

The United States has a long-standing commitment to spread the ideas and values of American democracy and civil society to foreign audiences and engage and maintain an open dialogue with people throughout the world.  One way we do this is through our “American Corner” program.

An American Corner is a partnership with a local institution that enables us to provide information about U.S. values and visions to audiences in other countries.  Often located outside of capital cities, as is the case in Port Gentil, American Corners bring a stronger American presence to those who might otherwise have limited or no exposure to American culture or ideals.
 
The American Corner at the Municipal Library has a collection of books, magazines, music, and on- and off-line databases from and about the United States.  There are also computers with internet connections, providing a unique opportunity to bring American culture to Port Gentil.  These resources will help individuals expand their skills and understand American values -- indeed, universal values -- of freedom of access to information and freedom of expression.

But the heart of the American Corner is the commitment to active programs engaging local audiences at all levels: visiting speakers will come here to give talks, and film showings or exhibits here will illustrate the diversity of American society.  The Corner serves as a small piece of the United States in Port Gentil, and is yet another sign of the excellent relations that exist between Gabon and the United States.

For more information about the American Corner in Port-Gentil, you may contact John Corrao, Economic/Commercial/Public Diplomacy Officer at the US Embassy in Libreville.