[stop-imf] African Union to call for full debt cancellation

[Robert Weissman]

  July 5, 2005
BBC NEWS
African leaders seek end to debt
*Leaders at the African Union summit in Libya are preparing to release a
final declaration expected to appeal for the continent's debts to be
wiped out. *

They are also likely to call for fairer terms of trade with the West,
while stressing their desire for better governance and transparency.

The meeting ends a day before the G8 summit of the world's richest nations.

On Monday, Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi told other African leaders to
"stop begging" for Western charity.

But the final declaration is likely to urge the G8 to end all $350bn of
African debt, not just the $40bn planned.

The statement will also see a call for Africa to be given two permanent
seats on the UN Security Council - although how the two posts will be
allocated remains undecided.

* Fair trade *

African Union chairman and Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo told the
53 delegates the continent was moving from a past of military coups to a
future of good governance.


=09* This is not the time for a lot of talk but more of a time for serious
and concerted action *
Olusegun Obasanjo
African Union chairman and Nigerian president

Mr Obasanjo, who will be attending the G8 summit in Gleneagles,
Scotland, called for "massive" financial help from the West and to
expand debt relief for Africa.

"This is not the time for a lot of talk but more of a time for serious
and concerted action," he told the gathering in the town of Sirte.

The BBC's Mike Donkin says the meeting in Libya has also been about
proving to hopefully committed Western partners that African leaders
will honour their side of any future bargain.

* Beggars *

Mr Obasanjo's remarks contrasted with those of Col Gaddafi, who said
Africa should refuse all conditional aid and some offers of help from
former colonial powers.

In a 30-minute speech which received muted applause from African
leaders, the Libyan leader said: "We are not beggars at the doorsteps of
the rich.

"If you give a poor man money, you don't ask him to change his clothes
or the way he prays."

UN Secretary General Kofi Annan told reporters in Sirte most countries
would prefer to trade themselves out of poverty rather than live on
handouts.

He said the challenge beyond aid would be the abandonment of restrictive
trade embargoes and subsidies so that the countries of Africa could
compete more fairly.

Meanwhile, a conference of international business leaders and six
African presidents is getting under way in London, charged with drawing
up an action plan for development in Africa to present to the G8 summit.

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/world/africa/4651337.stm

Published: 2005/07/05 12:05:21 GMT

=A9 BBC MMV