Marine Corps Ball

Hilton Hotel Yaounde, Cameroon: November 7, 2009

Mr. Minister of State; Minister; Admiral; Members of the government; representatives of the diplomatic corps; honored members of the military forces of the United States of America, of the Republic of Cameroon, and of allies and partner nations; colleagues; guests; ladies and gentlemen,

Good evening and happy 234th birthday to the United States Marine Corps.

I want to thank all of the men and women who have served or are serving the United States of America in uniform here in Cameroon and elsewhere, and I am particularly grateful to the members of the Embassy's Marine Security Guard Detachment who have organized tonight's event.

They are among over 1,200 U.S. Marines world-wide who protect our U.S. Embassies and missions abroad.  They guard U.S. diplomatic facilities 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and I am grateful to them for their work.

As you know from the video you have just seen and the ceremony you have witnessed so far, these men and women are heroic and proud warriors.  But I also know their kinder and gentler side.

Not only do they greet us every day when we arrive at the Embassy to work, but they are an important part of our Embassy community.  In addition to organizing this annual event, they host much-appreciated social events throughout the year for our diplomats and their families.  And they encourage those of us who are too often behind our desks to get out and enjoy a game of ultimate frisbee or basketball from time to time.

If you haven't already done so, don't be afraid to pose for a picture with these dedicated men.  You might even consider asking one of them to dance.  Although they often look stern and serious, this is a night for us to honor them by having fun together.

Before we continue the celebration, please allow me to speak briefly about some of the military cooperation that is ongoing between the United States of America and Cameroon, much of which involves U.S. Marines.

Military cooperation is important to us because competent, disciplined, and ethical security forces are necessary for national and regional peace and stability.

If a country cannot prevent pirates from attacking at sea or bandits from attacking on land, the people of the country are not only victims of that violence, but they also suffer from the inevitable economic decline that accompanies the risk of war and insecurity.  In addition, any country unable to secure its territory risks becoming a safe haven for international criminals or extremists.

All of our military assistance to Cameroon involves training and capacity building.  Much of this training is held at Cameroon's Naval Base in Douala and at Cameroon's Man O'War Bay military base located near Limbe.  The U.S. Navy is working with Cameroonians to construct a new U.S.-funded pier at the Man O'War Bay base, and we work closely with the Cameroonian Marine battalions in Mundemba, Ekondo Titi, and Campo.  Because maritime security is so important in the Gulf of Guinea we also work regularly with the Cameroonian Navy, and Seabees from the U.S. Navy are currently helping to renovate Cameroon's navy barracks in Douala.

We also send significant numbers of Cameroonian military officers to training outside of Cameroon and we hold programs here in Cameroon as well.  In July we organized a week-long seminar here in Yaounde for military officials, academics, media representatives, and members of the National Assembly to help them understand the importance of civilian control of the military.

In April a U.S. Navy Vessel "The Nashville" was stationed at sea off Limbe for almost two weeks as part of AFRICOM's "Africa Partnership Station" (or APS) program. Three Cameroonian navy officers were a part of the permanent staff on the ship as it traveled from country to country, and six other Cameroonians studied on the ship for one month as it provided training along the west coast of Africa.   Community outreach projects conducted by the APS crew included helping to refurbish schools and deliver medical and school supplies.  In addition, the APS crew worked on primate enclosures at the Limbe Wildlife Center.  We look forward to the next segment of APS, which will involve a visit to Cameroon by another U.S. navy vessel, "The Gunston Hall," in February.

Humanitarian assistance projects are a regular and continuing part of the work of the U.S. military in Cameroon.  Under the leadership of our Defense Attaché Office, during the past year we have built 12 wells in the Far North Region and participated in hospital and school construction projects in the North and Far North.  Just recently we delivered thousands of dollars of hospital beds and medical and surgical supplies to military clinics in Edéa and Ebolowa, and we have other deliveries destined for military clinics in Kribi and Campo.  We support these military clinics, in part, because we know they also provide medical services to needy civilians in their communities.

I am also particularly proud of the support the U.S. military has provided to biodiversity projects in Cameroon.  In February I attended the dedication of a large gorilla enclosure at Mefou National Park that was built with funding from the U.S. Department of Defense.  And in April I travelled to Campo Ma'an National Park for a donation of Yamaha dirt motorcycles and VHF radios that are helping park officials combat illegal hunting.

All of the projects I have mentioned tonight are examples of America's desire to forge a new era of partnership and international cooperation.  I expect them to continue under President Obama, and I am confident the kind of collaboration I have described is good for Cameroon and good for Africa.

So, let us celebrate tonight not only the 234th birthday of the United States Marine Corps, but the future of Cameroon and a future of peace and security in Africa.

Thank you and Happy Birthday Marines.