Blair Should Reject Bush's Excuses on Aid to Africa, Says Global AIDS Alliance
By admin - Posted on June 8th, 2005
Blair Should Reject Bush's Excuses on Aid to Africa, Says Global AIDS Alliance
WASHINGTON, June 7 /PRNewswire/ -- British Prime Minister Tony Blair will face difficult challenges when he visits the White House today to discuss aid to Africa. Negotiations on debt cancellation have reached an impasse, and Blair's appeal to double aid to Africa has been rebuffed. "The stakes for Africa at this meeting could not be higher," noted Dr. Paul Zeitz, Executive Director of the Global AIDS Alliance. "Blair should reject Bush's excuse that 'Africa cannot effectively use additional resources,' a view clearly contradicted by the latest UN assessment."While the President has touted his leadership is combating poverty and disease, Administration programs on these issues still constitute a tiny proportion of the US budget. A large portion of US foreign assistance is dedicated to the Millennium Challenge Account, even though little has actually been disbursed through this mechanism.
Meanwhile, in part because of the 30% cut in the US contribution, proposed by President Bush, the Global Fund could be forced to eliminate AIDS prevention programs next year and scale back expansion of treatment. The President has proposed the US meet 8.5% of the Fund's 2006 need.
"The 9/11 Commission underlined that US security requires a renewed effort to eradicate poverty," noted Zeitz. "Expansion of global freedom and democracy is meaningless without expansion of access to health and education. President Bush should give stopping global disease and ensuring full access to basic education their rightful priority within the US budget."
The $15 billion the President has proposed be spent on global AIDS, Tb and malaria is less than 1% of what the President hopes to spend on the military over the same period.
Blair and Bush will also discuss debt cancellation for poor countries. The Bush Administration has, so far, opposed cancellation of debts owed to the International Monetary Fund. It also has been heavily lobbied by Wayne Murdy, a Bush campaign contributor and head of Newmont Mining, to oppose the use of gold sales to help finance cancellation. The UK position also has serious weaknesses, including that it would only temporarily relieve countries of payment obligations.
"We need Blair and Bush to lead the way to full and broad cancellation, without harmful conditions" stated Zeitz. "Together they must work to bring the rest, especially Germany, Japan, and France, to this position."
Source: Global AIDS Alliance
