"Participation Builds Unity"
"MADE IN AFRICA - FOR AFRICA"
"Participation Builds Unity"
"MADE IN AFRICA - FOR AFRICA"
PRESENTS
TONY BLAIR AND AFRICA
David MASANGO
BuaNews
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31 May 2007
Outgoing British Prime Minister Tony Blair says there is now the possibility of a more strategic approach for real transformation in Africa based on partnership, rather than aid alone.
For this to happen, he explained, wealthy nations must hold on to the path set out in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and at the Gleneagles G8 meeting (2005) amongst others.
Mr Blair was speaking at the Unisa School of Business Leadership, during his last visit to the country (South Africa) as Prime Minister.
Africa must take its responsibilities seriously and to develop in the way the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) and the G8 partnership provided, explained Mr Blair.
He told the gathering that the international community had to "commit and recommit" to achieve set goals for Africa because there was now a broad political consensus for Africa in the United Kingdom (UK), and that the same was needed from the European Union.
"If we do this, and Africa responds as an equal partner, we will have set a strategic goal that in time we will achieve; and in a continent in which the power of China is rising dramatically; we can work with China to serve the development of Africa in a way which benefits us all.
"But if we give up, we will lose the chance in this continent – rich as it is though its people are poor – for our values to take root. It will be a calamitous misjudgement and we should not do it," the Prime Minister said.
Some of the issues that he cited where the developed world should intervene in this regard were conflict resolution and peace-keeping; fighting poverty; development of the private sector; trade and climate change.
Regarding conflict resolution and peacekeeping in Africa, Mr Blair pointed out that the UK had trained 11 000 peacekeeping troops – most from Africa – in the last three years.
He recommitted the G8 to training 75 000 troops by 2010, adding that it was for that reason that the UK was supporting the African Union (AU) to develop a stand-by force.
"I want to make sure that we here in Africa and the G8 will work together for a mechanism at the UN which secures UN funding for AU operations.
"We will propose to our EU partners a mechanism for funding rapid deployment to ensure AU troops can move quickly when required," said Mr Blair.
The Prime Minister said the package of commitments the developing world made at the 2005 Gleneagles meeting was "undoubtedly" a comprehensive one.
Commitments made to the developing world included amongst others:
In this regard Mr Blair pointed out that the big challenge was implementing the commitments – getting rich countries and African governments to keep their promises.
African countries, he said, had the responsibility to amongst others consolidate democracy; build the capacity of government institutions to deliver essential services; redouble efforts to stamp out corruption and encourage the private sector to grow.
The Prime Minister also acknowledged that although the commitments had not been met entirely thus far, a lot had been done in that regard.
On climate change, Mr Blair pointed out that the international community – particularly developed countries – had to acknowledge that climate change was a crucial matter.
He said all parties – including the biggest producers of greenhouse gases – should be brought in to an agreement to reduce emissions.
"The politics are that, with or without the current leadership, the United States (USA) will not agree to the Kyoto protocol without China being part of the agreement," he said, citing the US' reluctance to become signatory to the Kyoto Protocol, despite being a major contributor to climate change.
Mr Blair said the next G8 had to:
The Prime Minister also challenged African governments to hold other African governments to account over their actions and conditions in their respective countries. –
· US $50 billion extra aid per year by 2010, of which half would go to Africa;
· 100% debt cancellation;
· Universal access to HIV and AIDS treatment;
· Free basic health and education;
· Training of AU forces; and
· Supporting the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) and ratifying the Convention Against Corruption
· Acknowledge that climate change is a crucial issue;
· Come up with a new agreement that includes the US and China and all countries;
· Set new obligations and goals collectively
BuaNews
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