Togo's new leader, Faure Gnassingbe, made his first address to the nation on Wednesday since taking over as president following the death of his father, Gnassingbe Eyadema, at the weekend.
In a speech broadcast by state media, Mr Faure promised to hold "free and fair" general elections as soon as possible, and paid tribute to his late father's legacy. The following are excerpts from his address:
On elections
We wish that discussions... towards a consensual electoral framework will result in the holding of free and fair general elections as soon as possible to reflect the will of the people, as indicated by the father of the nation.
On national reconciliation
We shall fully assume our responsibilities at the service of the Togolese people and in compliance with the constitution. Our predecessor, President Eyadema, often expressed a deep desire towards a genuine reconciliation of all sons of the land. Actions he took to that effect led to the consolidation of unity and national concord.
On the penal system
As of now, we have decided to order the remission by one quarter of penalties against common law offenders.
On exiles
We wish that all Togolese who have chosen to live abroad feel at home in our country and feel free to return whenever they wish.
On foreigners
We also thank the foreign community in Togo who shared in the Togolese people's sorrow. We shall not relent in our efforts to ensure their security, just as in the past.
On the armed forces
We particularly thank the Togolese armed forces and the security forces and congratulate them for their courage and faithfulness and for the calm, order and discipline they maintain across the country...
We particularly rely on the Togolese armed forces and security forces to continue to guarantee peace and security, necessary for the achievement of our ambitions. We call on them to preserve their unity and cohesion, indispensable for their sacred mission to protect our hard-working population and national integrity.
On human rights
We shall carry on with efforts to promote human rights, good governance and the rule of law, reaffirmed in the democratic principles of the AU [African Union] and Ecowas [Economic Community of West African States].
On foreign policy
We shall do everything in our power to help restore good relations with the international community, including the EU and foreign financial institutions.
On his father's death
Togo has just experienced a tragedy: the loss of the father of the nation, Gnassingbe Eyadema. Such a brutal event deeply troubled Togolese people, who still feel a very afflicting pain in the face of such a cruel death.
On his father's legacy
Each of us is aware of President Eyadema's immense achievements to protect the interests of the Togolese people:
-
The building of a united and prosperous nation, respected both from within and abroad.
- Peace and security for each one of us.
- Establishment of a violence-free democracy to let all of us feel respected and protected by the state.
- Harmonious economic development.
- Economic independence through food self-sufficiency.
On the future
A new phase of our national life has started. We ought to live in peace and serenity. In calm and with determination, we shall guarantee civil peace so that all Togolese freely attend to their business. Fellow Togolese, we rely on your support to make our dear country regain its status of the gold of humanity. May God bless Togo.
BBC Monitoring selects and translates news from radio, television, press, news agencies and the Internet from 150 countries in more than 70 languages. It is based in Caversham, UK, and has several bureaus abroad.
~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~05~RS~)
One-Minute World News
News services
E-mail this to a friend
Printable version
