Comments of Ambassador Jeanine Jackson
Re-Launch of the U.S. Embassy Web Site
June 28 2007

Welcome to the launch of the newly redesigned U.S. Embassy French-language website. Today is an important day for both Americans and Burkinabe. Today we are unveiling a new tool to help build a stronger relationship between our two people. With the re-launching of the U.S. Embassy’s French-language website, we are endeavoring to provide more information, more quickly to the Burkinabe people through the efficient use of modern technology. My staff has worked very hard to make this site useful to those Burkinabe who are looking for more information about the United States, its values, and its people. Often many Burkinabe have questions about American culture, politics and education. This site strives to provide information on all these subjects. It will also highlight the strong partnership between the United States and Burkina Faso by showcasing the many activities and programs available at the American Embassy in Ouagadougou.

Around the world, the Internet is taking the place of older forms of communication like phones and letters. This can also be seen in Ouagadougou through the proliferation of DVDs, CDs, and cellular phones. Clearly, information and an interest in modern technology are becoming a more important part of life in Burkina Faso. But still many Burkinabe do not have sufficient access to desired information or to the machines necessary to acquire it. The U.S. Embassy is working to help fill that void. Our new French website will complement the resources already available through the American Cultural Center and the MLK Library. The website will function in both English and French to give Burkinabe access to information about key topics, news, and U.S. policy towards Burkina Faso, Africa, and the rest of the world.  One benefit of this design will allow the people of Burkina Faso to practice their English by navigating the English site and referring to the French site when needed.

Websites help promote interaction between cultures over vast distances. It is the goal of the U.S. Embassy in Burkina Faso to promote such a dialog between our two countries with the free flow of information. Much of the information contained on our website reinforces American priorities in our relationship with Burkina Faso, such as supporting democracy and human rights, economic development, and regional stability. We have also selected links to other websites to facilitate users’ ability to find information relevant to both the United States and Burkina Faso.  Finally, if you are unable to find exactly the information you are seeking, we are launching a new service today called “Ask the Librarian”, which will allow users to contact the MLK Library directly with specific questions. The users will receive answers electronically, and selected questions and answers will be posted on the site for the benefit of all visitors.

While we are launching our new French site today, it doesn’t mean that it will remain static. I encourage you to return to the site regularly to see updates on the U.S.-Burkina partnership as well as new and exciting features such as audio files and additional virtual resources.  And please let us know how we can make the site even more useful in the future by contacting our webmaster through the site. I truly hope that you find this site informative, useful, and most of all inviting.  Thank you again and enjoy.