Transcript: Mayor Adams Delivers Remarks at Flag Raising Ceremony for Guinea

October 2, 2024

Deputy Commissioner Aissata Camara, Mayor's Office of International Affairs: I am so honored to be here as the deputy commissioner and a Guinean in the administration. It is an honor to be celebrating Guinea's 66th anniversary of their independence. We wish them continued prosperity, continued goodness.

To be Guinean is to be a dignified person. To be a Guinean woman, it means to be a strong woman. And I am proud to be a Guinean woman. So thank you for coming together. Thank you for joining us in raising for the second time, the flag of Guinea. And now it's my immense honor to introduce the permanent representative and ambassador of the Republic of Guinea, Paul Zoumanigui.

Paul Goa Zoumanigui, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Guinea to the United Nations: [Speaks in French.] I will now switch in English to thank everyone here today who have come to celebrate with us the commemoration of the independence of the Republic of Guinea on the 2nd of October.

Mr. Mayor, ladies and gentlemen, collaborators of the mayor, dear president of the Guinean community, ladies and gentlemen from the administration of Guinea, dear friends of Guinea, it is an immense pleasure and satisfaction for me to be here today, October 2nd, 2024, to raise the Guinean flag at the New York Bowling Green for the second consecutive years.

In this regard, I would like to thank warmly Mr. Mayor and your colleagues for the opportunity you are giving us today, again, and to convey to your collaborators and thanks of our president, general of Army Corps, Mamady Doumbouya, head of state and president of the Republic of Guinea.

We appreciate the message of the Secretary of State that was delivered some times ago and we praise that Guinea and the United States will continue working together hand to hand to strengthen the cooperation between the two countries. As you know, the date of October 2nd remains emblematic for our country, the Republic of Guinea, the first French-speaking country, African country, to gain independence on this date in 1958. Thus, opening a way for other countries that followed the path traced by Guinea. Since then, a lot of water has flowed under the bridge, leading the people of Guinea to support other countries, particularly African countries, in the conquest of their independence to promote Pan-Africanism, positive naturalism in its international relations and to develop fruitful relations of friendship and cooperation with all actors of international community.

Our presence on the American soil stems from these convictions. We welcome the conditions and facilities granted to us, I mean the Guinean community, in the exercise of our function in order to strengthen friendly relations with the United States of America. Within the framework of the permanent mission of the Republic of Guinea in New York, we welcome the excellent relation of cooperation with the respective American authorities, particularly with the New York City Hall.

I would like in this occasion to recognize our compatriots, [Mori Kuyate,] Aissata Camara, and the New York African Council, for their valuable contribution to the strengthening of those relations. I also recognize and thank the African law enforcement officers here with us today. I have not forgotten about the Assemblyman Charles Fall. We highly appreciate the excellent relation between the Mayor's Office and the Guinean National through their respective officials. We encourage the continuation of this relation and assure that we will continue being available to contribute to strengthen those relations. Finally, I would like to reassure you once again to continue working with your office, Mr. Mayor, for the benefit of our respective institutions and citizens. I thank you all for your attention.

Deputy Commissioner Camara: Let's thank the ambassador again. Vive la Guinée. Vive la Guinée. I am so honored to introduce Mayor Eric Adams, the 110th mayor of New York. But we're going to introduce him the Guinean way today. My sister, introduce the mayor of New York City to this group. Yeah.

[Music Break.]

Mayor Eric Adams: That should be a standard introduction. You know, the uniqueness of the sound that comes from Guinea, as well as the continent, is not only a call for the acknowledgement of who I am as an individual, but is a call to wake up our spirits of our ancestors. Because we are here because of our ancestors. And I am so proud of my sister, Commissioner Aissata, from Guinea, who really ties the connection with the African diaspora, as well as the other international leaders across the entire globe. This is the second year that we have raised the flag. We did it during your 65th anniversary, and now we're here during the 66th anniversary.

And although we acknowledge your independence, we want to be clear that we are dependent on each other. We need each other, and that is why we lift up the flag of the various immigrant communities in this city. Because your contribution to this city is what makes us great. And one of the aspects of it that makes me proud, as we do these flag raises in general, but specifically the African diaspora, that you're seeing a larger and larger group of men and women in the law enforcement community that are representing the African diaspora.

Their presence sends a real signal that they understand how safe we must be, and how the community's Police Department should reflect the diversity of the city. So I'm here today, not only as a proud American, but as a proud African. And I say, let's raise the flag, and let's raise the consciousness of the contributions that this community has provided for not only New York, but this entire country. Happy Independence, Long Live Guinea.

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