the Case of the Freeper FRiva Feva is under scrutiny - super-sleuths are welcomed
come resolve the way to yesterday's Target Post, you're not out of the running yet
win your registration fees to the FRive Las Vegas Conference if you dare
Posted on 06/27/2002 1:35:51 PM PDT by Clive
Prime Minister Jean Chrétien was successful Thursday in his aim to convince leaders of the world's G8 countries to sign a development plan for Africa for an increase of $6-billion (U.S.) a year.
Leaders of France, the U.S., Russia, Japan, Italy and Germany signed an action plan Thursday which committed the countries to providing Africa with a the extra money - with a caveat.
Africa must agree to help itself by pledging to improve democracy, its economy, education, and reduce violence.
"This isn't old-fashioned aid. It is a genuine partnership," British Prime Minister Tony Blair told reporters.
"In the past it's been based on a very passive relationship between us giving money and them receiving it," Mr. Blair said. "...That's not the deal anymore."
The money is part of an Africa Action Plan that has been the main preoccupation of Prime Minister Jean Chrétien at the summit.
Mr. Chrétien said he was pleased that the leaders made the commitment.
"This system which is being launched today will give the African continent a fresh start," Mr. Chrétien said at a press conference in Kananaskis Thursday afternoon announcing the deal.
The aid money started rolling in March, when leaders from around the world met in Monterrey, Me., to discuss development issues. There, the United States, the European Union and Canada all pledged to increase their aid budgets by a collective $12-billion a year.
But after none of the countries said exactly where the money would go, the World Bank called on the G8 leaders to ensure that at least half of the Monterrey pledges would go to Africa.
However, the leaders were not able to come to a unanimous consensus on donating $12-billion in aid, which Mr. Chrétien had hoped.
The Prime Minister failed to get a firm commitment to earmark for Africa a portion of the $12-billion a year in new aid promised by the United States and European Union at a UN conference in March.
African leaders said they were satisfied with the amount and pledged to make fundamental changes to their country.
Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo said that it is "a good arrangement."
He promised that African countries "are determined to keep our side of the bargain," and would punish those who do not follow the document's orders.
"African nations must govern justly, invest in their own people and promote economic freedom," reads the document put out by the leaders Thursday.
Mr. Obasanjo said that if countries did not follow the edict, they would be punished with sanctions or "be given a push."
UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan called this year's summit a historic meeting.
"The summit may come to be seen as a turning point in the history of Africa and indeed of the world," Mr. Annan said.
The money is part of an Africa Action Plan that has been the main preoccupation of Prime Minister Jean Chrétien at the summit.
He has said all along that he wanted Africa to remain at the top of the G8 agenda.
On Wednesday, however, much of the media attention was focused on Mr. Bush's comments on the Middle East situation and the accounting scandal with U.S. telecom company, WorldCom.
But Thursday's schedule was devoted almost entirely to discussions on African development.
The aid pledges from the G8 countries were a response to the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD).
Developed by African leaders themselves, NEPAD is a detailed proposal aimed at improving the country's democracy and peace, decreasing poverty and increasing economic development in the continent.
A peer group made up of African officials would choose which countries would receive aid from the various G8 nations.
NEPAD aims to halve the number of Africans living in poverty by 2015 and meet several other development targets. That requires another $64-billion (U.S.) a year over the next 13 years from economic growth, internal reforms and foreign aid, the plan's authors say.
Later on Thursday, a group of Canadian and African non- governmental organizations plan to respond to the progress of the G8 leaders, focusing on furthering African development.
Okay, we pledge. Send the money.
Do you hear that flushing sound? It's the sound of $6 billion going down the toilet.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.