Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield’s Meeting with Beninese Foreign Minister Aurelien Agbénonci
Linda Thomas-Greenfield answers questions during her confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in Washington on Jan. 27. Greg Nash-Pool/Getty Images
United States Mission to the United Nations
Office of Press and Public Diplomacy
For Immediate Release
January 13, 2022
The below is attributable to U.S. Mission to the United Nations Spokesperson Olivia Dalton:
U.S. Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield met today with Beninese Foreign Minister Aurelien Agbénonci, Minister of Economy and Finance Romuald Wadagni, and Minister of State in Charge of Planning and Development Abdoulaye Bio Tchane.
Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield expressed that the United States values its partnership and cultural ties with Benin and noted our sincere hope to make progress together on a democratic path forward for Benin. Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield expressed disappointment over the erosion of democratic norms in Benin, including the use of defamation charges to detain political prisoners. She pressed the ministers to put an end to these practices and to pursue confidence building measures that restore public trust in the government.
Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield also underscored the need to safeguard the integrity of the UN system and the multilateral institutions, the importance of focusing UN development work on first helping those furthest behind, and the United States’ leading role and assistance in pandemic recovery efforts.
