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Hilary Clinton Praises Cape Verde!

SANTA MARIA, Cape Verde — 14th August 2009 –

Winding up an 11-day African tour, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said she's optimistic about the future of Cape Verde. "I love coming to Africa," Clinton said at a joint news conference in Cape Verde with Prime Minister Jose Maria Pereira Neves as she prepared to head back to Washington. Responding to Clinton, Neves said that “We represent a new and emerging Africa" with progress in the areas of free press, free speech and the rule of law.

U.S. officials have said that Cape Verde, a former Portuguese colony off the coast of West Africa, could serve as a model for other African nations as it has held numerous free and fair elections and has taken measures to ensure accountability and transparency in government. Clinton, particularly, praised the government as "a model of democracy and economic progress in Africa." She noted that women account for more than half the members of Cape Verde's Cabinet. "I think the United States can learn a lot from your example," she told Neves.

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