Dr. Cheikh Tidiane Gadio has been the senior minister of foreign affairs of the Republic of Senegal since Senegal's historic political transition in March of 2000. In October 2002, Gadio negotiated the ceasefire between the government of Ivory Coast and the rebel forces. He steered the Paris meetings that brokered the Marcoussis Accord among the Ivoirian political parties and the rebels.

Dr. Gadio will be online Tuesday, Mar. 4 at noon ET, to discuss the current situation with the Ivory Coast.

Prior to joining the government of Senegal, Gadio worked as an economic and telecommunications development advisor at the World Bank Institute.

The transcript follows.

Editor's Note: Washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Live Online discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions.

Dr. Cheikh Tidiane Gadio: Good afternoon dear friends of the Washington Post interactive. Thank you for your time and let's get started...

Alexandria, Va.: I know a lady from the Ivory Coast and she is extremely aristocratic and educated.

What are the people in the Ivory Coast fighting over?

Dr. Cheikh Tidiane Gadio: People of Cote d'Ivoire are amicable, educated and peaceful. I have personnally a profound respect and esteem for them. I believe that what happened and triggered the rebellion may happen in all our countries precisily because of the fragile nature of our nations and political systems. Issues of identity, immigration, discrimination, sense of national belonging or exclusion, political heritage of the founding father Houphouet, have all played a critical role in the crisis.

Washington, D.C.: Hello Mr. Gadio:

It is a personal pleasure to meet someone of your nature and intelligence.

However I would like to know if you have an opinion about reparations to Africa for what the Europeans have done to your beautiful country. Not just material wealth, but the mental social injustice as well...which will take a very long time to repair?

Thank you.

Dr. Cheikh Tidiane Gadio: Thank you for your kind words toward me personnally.
My concern about the concept of "reparations" is that I refuse to put a price value on the loss of my continent during slavery. I do not want also to divide the children of Africa "at home or abroad' (GARVEY) on the issue of who should benefit from "reparations". Overall I refuse to believe that Africa's renaissance and economic revival have once again to depend on the amount of money or debt relief that the West is willing to give us. We are, thank God, still the richest continent on earth. With NEPAD and the struggle to reconnect with our grandeur of the past from Pharaonic Egypt to the Middle age empires, we have enough to push Africa on top of the ladder...

Lyme, Conn.: What do you see as necessary to bring peace and stability to the Ivory Coast? What are the threats to stability, and how should they be approached?

Dr. Cheikh Tidiane Gadio: The way to Peace in Cote d'Ivoire today is to give a chance to Prime Minister Seydou Diarra. Here is a Man of dignity, honor and courage. I know he is ready to make history and present his government of national reconciliation. We will see how this will be received at the scheduled Thursday Accra meeting. But if all political leaders put Cote d'Ivoire first and remember that Mandela appointed M. Buthelizi Interior Minister after the conflict led by this leader and that M. Kabila for the sake of peace is ready to have rebellion leaders as Vice Presidents, I believe Cote d'Ivoire will achieve peace quickly.

Redlands, Calif.: Hi Dr Gadio:
My name is Serge I am from Cote D'Ivoire. my question is regarding the creation of an association of Africans from the Diaspora and their Friends together with those in the continent, to create "Generation Nepad." The purpose of this association is to create a network among Africans, support the Nepad and achieve his goals by lobbying. And also by being the Ambasadors for the Nepad by explaining what the Nepad is about.

Dr. Cheikh Tidiane Gadio: Congratulations Serge for your wonderful move. You have my full support. I am actually about to create the "Africa in the New Millenium Clubs' everywhere in the Continent and in the Diaspora. So you see that we have the same ideas and Ideal... Send me a note about your initiative and I will share it with the initiators of NEPAD. God bless you...

Washington, D.C.: Do you think Americans understand Africa? What about African-Americans?

Dr. Cheikh Tidiane Gadio: Often this question comes in a biased form. Americans do not understand Africa just as much as Africans do not understand Africa. Such an observation tells us what we really need to do on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean to bridge our gaps and misunderstandings. America is an extension of Europe as much as it is an extension of Africa, Asia, and the entire world. This is your strength but also your challenge. Africa is 'the heart of it all'. We all came from Africa, we started our greatest achievements there (Egypt) and have nowadays our greatest challenges there (Aids, Conflicts and strugle for survival).
I personally care and love my African-American, and African-Carribean brothers and sisters. They are symbol of our suffering but also of our triumph over adversity. I hope we will soon develop better channels of communciation. My country, Senegal, is proud to have sponsored at the African Union the inclusion of the African Diaspora as an integral part of the African renaissance process...

Washington, D.C.: Hello Mr. Gadio, it is a pleasure to be with you on the internet. I am a little apprehensive that the NEPAD, although structured as a great and novel idea, will fall by the wayside, and become as innefective as so many Africa-wide organization have. That is unless it establishes, very early, its reputation as being an undertaking that takles concrete and vital projects geared towards improving the condition of vast amounts of African. For instance why not take on the very specific projects of building a large power plant that will use the abundant rivers of west Africa, to supply power to several countries (i.e. Senegal, Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leonne...) What an incredible palpable statement about regionalism, integration and all.

Mori

Dr. Cheikh Tidiane Gadio: My friend Mori, your question if bringing up a major issue. For NEPAD to prosper and to succeed, it is now time for concrete actions and projects implementation. I believe it is still important to help the African masses, civil society, African women and youth, understand and claim ownership of NEPAD, otherwise it will remain a governement'project and may end up the way you described. BUT What is truly urgent is to resolve the issue of financing NEPAD through public and private resources, african and international. Dakar-Mombassa by train, or regional power plants, that's what our people need to quickly see to believe in the great future of NEPAD...

Washington, D.C.: Mr. Gadio: Is there any plan for the an African-wide body to inquiry about and bring to trial the perpatrators of mass crimes such as the ones now being spoken about in Cote d'Ivoire?

Dr. Cheikh Tidiane Gadio: Africa, through its NEPAD project, has made the pledge to handle problems of human rights violations. I believe we will soon put together such a mechanism and be sure to ban impunity and lack of accountability. Human life is precious and its sanctity is revered in Africa.

Washington, D.C.: For what reasons do you account for the shift in Ivoirian public opinion from supporting France to supporting the United States? Is this only a recent shift because of French support for the peace, or is this part of a greater shift of public opinion in parts of West Africa. Thank you.

Dr. Cheikh Tidiane Gadio: I believe Ivoirians are great friends of France. Vice versa. Relationships with the former colonial masters is always complex. Love and hate, respect and defiance, interdependence and solidarity are always mixed in such a relationships.
The US has a positive image in many African countries such as Senegal for instance. I believe the African-American community played a great role in achieving such a status fro their country. The US can do more and better, and I believe the Millenium Challence Account, and the ceremony that brought in Washington that will launch the US Digital Freedom Initiative with Senegal as the pilot country (6.5 million US dollars in 3 years) are all positive signs that the US is putting Africa more and more on its agenda... But we are hoping of course for much more overall...

Dr. Cheikh Tidiane Gadio: Many thanks friends for this enjoyable conversation. Take care and bye..

washingtonpost.com:

That wraps up today's show. Thanks to everyone who joined the discussion.

Stay Tuned to Live Online:
Station Break: Paul Farhi on TV/Radio, 1 p.m. ET
Lean Plate Club: Sally Squires, 1 p.m. ET
Classical Music Forum: Tim Page, 1 p.m. ET
Teacher Says: Evelyn Vuko on Memory Strategies, 2 p.m. ET
Iraq: Post-War Reconstruction, 3 p.m. ET

Keep up with the best Live Online has to offer and special breaking news discussions. Sign up for the NEW Live Online e-mail newsletter.

Personalize your Post with mywashingtonpost.com. Get customized news, traffic, weather and more.

   |      |