Prime minister Paul Bérenger says he has had a fruitful tête-à-tête with the president of the United States of America (USA), Georges W. Bush, during his two-day visit to Washington. All the relevant issues, including the Chagos dispute, were taken up in the discussions, according to the prime minister.

Paul Bérenger, who came back on Sunday, briefed the press at his office yesterday on his various interactions with the American leadership during what he coined as a ?working visit? (and not a State visit to quote his own words).

Speaking on AGOA (Africa growth and opportunities Act), he said he had shared with the US president his concerns about the ?catastrophic consequences? on some nascent textile industries, especially in Madagascar and Mozambique, if the law does not get through by September next. ?The president was very thankful to me for having brought the matter to his personal attention. The chemistry between the two of us was very good ?, he added.

However, the chances that the meeting of minds could have any positive impact on the progress of AGOA III are very bleak. There is not much the White House can do about it. The Bill has to pass the Senate stage, which remains a very remote possibility.

Jayen Cuttaree, minister for Foreign affairs and International trade, who has been much involved in the lobbying activities for AGOA III is very pessimistic. ?AGOA III is not on the Senate agenda. A vote on this bill would be a miracle?, he observed.

The political context is not conducive for an extension of AGOA III either. This is a year when the Americans are going to elect their president and vice-president. Local textile lobbies are at work during the campaign to block garment imports, irrespective of their sources. Both Conservative and Republican candidates are under pressure from their respective vote banks and from the industry to protect jobs and market share in the home textile sector. Any political move in favour of African textile exports will definitely endanger its initiators? electoral position.

?Voters and candidates alike do not seem to differentiate between Chinese garments and apparel from other countries?, complained the PM to express his pessimism about the whole issue. Under these circumstances, lobbying in the corridor of government would have limited effect. Nevertheless, the prime minister has enlisted the support of an Oregon senator, Gordon Smith, in the process.

In the midst of staunch American protectionism, there is nevertheless some good news for Africa. The Millennium Challenge Account, which is an innovative US foreign aid initiative in favour of poor countries, is now operational. The prime minister commended such a move that can provide a breathing space to less advanced countries. An initial package of the tune of $ 1 billion will be floated. This sum is expected to grow progressively ($5 billion per year as from 2006) over the years. Underdeveloped countries wishing to benefit from this aid should be able to demonstrate a good track record in terms of democracy, good governance and human rights.

?I have discussed the matter with state secretary Colin Powell, who is in charge of this programme. Mauritius does not qualify for this initiative, but Mozambique and Madagascar do. Mauritius can provide its assistance to these countries. The Millennium Challenge Account would fund both private sector and public sector projects?, Paul Bérenger remarked.

The Chagos dispute was also raised with Bush. The prime minister reassured his host that there was no plan to challenge the use of Diego Garcia as a military base for US armed forces. The contention is mainly on the sovereignty of the archipelago, which is a matter of dispute between Mauritius and the United Kingdom (UK). The Mauritian government wants to open fresh talks with the British government on that issue. Paul Bérenger is now seeking an appointment with his British counterpart, Tony Blair, to discuss the whole matter on the strength of recent legal advice on this decades-old quarrel.

The prime minister who will be chairing the Southern African Development Community (SADC) shortly was bound to raise the issue that brought the relations between the organization and the USA to a halt: the human rights situation in Zimbabwe. All official links between USA and the SADC were severed after the latter failed to take strong action against the ?defaulting? Zimbabwean regime.

<B>The Chagos dispute was also raised with Bush. The prime minister reassured his host that there was no plan to challenge the use of Diego Garcia as a military base for US armed forces.</B>