Media Note Office of the Spokesman Washington, DC March 29, 2007 United States, Brazil, and Guinea-Bissau Advance Cooperation on Legislative TrainingSecretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Brazilian Foreign Minister Celso Amorim, and Guinea-Bissau Foreign Minister Antonio Isaac Monteiro will sign a memorandum of understanding on March 30 regarding coordinated assistance to the National Popular Assembly of Guinea-Bissau for legislative capacity building. The memorandum of understanding highlights the first initiative involving joint cooperation among the United States, Brazil, and an African nation. The United States will provide $200,000 in 2007 to the National Assembly of Guinea-Bissau for legislative training that will be implemented through a cooperative agreement with the National Democratic Institute. The funding builds on $280,000 in similar United States Government assistance provided in 2006. The training will focus on issues such as budgetary oversight and will be coordinated as possible with Brazilian assistance efforts to maximize impact. Under the provisions of the memorandum of understanding, the governments intend to facilitate exchange of program materials, support the establishment of an advisory committee, and share information on developing training and assistance activities for the National Popular Assembly of Guinea-Bissau. Representatives of the three governments intend to meet as necessary to review the capacity-building needs, engage with stakeholders, and coordinate each government's contributions in the area of legislative strengthening. 2007/246 |