Statement at the Africa Day Conference on Peace, Stability and Development of Africa Into the New Millennium

"Africa also faces a serious problem of negative perception. Despite the fact that more than two-thirds of African countries have maintained relative peace and stability throughout the past decade, and about the same proportion have registered positive growth rates in economic development, the continent is still identified with generalized chaos and lack of development. The image of the whole Africa, particularly for some of our colleagues in the West, is one of rampant conflicts, general disorder, and systemic malaise. The continent is presented as a bottomless pit and a hopeless case." - Dr. Salim, May 26, 1998