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The G-8 and African Development. by Adam Starr 11 February 2002 18:46 UTC |
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This is a news strory from www.cbc.ca written by a staff reporter. It concerns the upcoming G-8 Summit in Alberta, Canada and the current economic situation in Africa. Any comments or concerns? Adam. Economists Question G-8 Leaders' Commitment to Africa Last Updated Sun, 10 Feb 2002 16:25:23 MONTREAL - Prime Minister Jean Chrétien wants Africa to top the agenda at the upcoming G-8 summit in Alberta, but some international experts say it will take more than increased trade to bring real change to the continent. * INDEPTH: AIDS in Africa Experts discussed the challenges Africans face, including AIDS, undemocratic governments and crippling national debts, at a public forum sponsored by Foreign Affairs in Montreal. Economist Gerry Helleiner of the University of Toronto's Munk Centre for International Studies is pleased Africa is on the agenda, but he believes change depends on what is actually delivered by the G-8. Chrétien "has yet to make commitments that will satisfy the requests, not to say demands, of the African heads of state," said Helleiner. "So it's a rhetorical commitment." Helleiner called on G-8 countries not to trade with African leaders who are despotic or corrupt. He also said it's time to forgive the huge foreign debts crippling many African nations. But World Bank economist Célestin Monga from Cameroon said debt relief isn't enough. Monga said the G-8 has a lot of power that can be used to bring about democratic and market changes. "I would say that they should simply do in Africa what they did in Eastern Europe," said Monga. "We are simply asking them to consider us to be citizens of the world, to have rights like everybody else. We want to be taken seriously." Like Helleiner, Monga agrees it remains to be seen whether any concrete action comes out of the G-8 summit. Written by CBC News Online staff ===== Adam T. Starr Undergraduate of Political Science, UVic 3009 Quadra Street, Victoria, British Columbia V8T 4G2 Canada (011) (250) 472-1223 adam@hornbyisland.com or reunitedhornby@yahoo.com __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Send FREE Valentine eCards with Yahoo! Greetings! http://greetings.yahoo.com
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