Blair: Comprehensive strategy needed for Africa

Thursday, 27 January 2005 10:46 AM

Prime Minister Tony Blair today said the problems of the developing world could not be dealt with separately but must be addressed with a "comprehensive" strategy.

Speaking at a press conference at the World Economic Forum, he said inter-related issues such as Aids, debt relief, fair trade, conflict resolution and better governance must be tackled together.

A "mechanism" for putting in place such a strategy was being discussed at present, he said, but did not reveal any details.

Noting there would be an international outcry if the problems afflicting Africa happened anywhere else in the world, the Prime Minister said: "The facts as we see them and as they're happening in the daily lives of people in Africa are so shocking, it almost defies our imagination."

The number of people dying each year from preventable diseases was "appalling", he added.

Mr Blair also announced that Britain would give £45 million towards providing mosquito nets to Africa to help fight the insects that spread malaria.

Out of the developing world, Brazil will be invited to the G8 summit - hosted by Britain - and a number of other countries would be "engaged in the process" he said.

Africa countries were "determined" to address their problems themselves and did not want to maintain the traditional 'donor-recipient' relationship, he added.

Speaking at the same press conference, Microsoft head Bill Gates and U2 lead singer Bono praised the Prime Minister's leadership over Africa. Bono said: "I truly believe that the Africa Commission offers the Prime Minister a chance to touch more lives than he can do in anything else while in office."

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