Blair unveils plans for Africa commission
The prime minister has announced plans to establish an international commission for Africa.
The commission will investigate ways of resolving the continent’s major problems such as “economic issues, education, conflict resolution, health, the environment, HIV/Aids and governance”.
Tony Blair confirmed the initiative at his monthly televised press conference and claimed that it was vital in order to meet the United Nations’ so-called “millennium development goals”.
The commission will be chaired by Mr Blair and is due to report next spring.
Campaigner and Live Aid organiser Bob Geldof will join politicians from around the world, including Ethiopian prime minister Meles Zenawi, South African finance minister Trevor Manuel and UK chancellor Gordon Brown on the commission.
The prime minister told journalists: “It is necessary to do this now because we realise and appreciate that the millennium development goals that we have to meet by 2015 are going to be difficult to reach. But nonetheless I think it is essential that we try to do so.”
Save the Children director general Mike Aaronson, speaking on behalf of the British Overseas Aid Group (Boag), said: “Africa is crippled by poverty and is a long way from reaching the UN’s anti-poverty goals. Any initiative that provides real solutions is a welcome step.”
Mr Blair also told the press conference that African issues would be a key priority during the American and British presidencies of the G8 group of industrialised nations over the next two years.
He told reporters that Africa was the only continent to have grown poorer in the last 25 years, that its share of world trade had halved in a generation and that millions of people were dying of famine or disease.
Mr Blair added: “I have said on many occasions that I believe Africa is the scar on the conscience of the world. And I think it is right that we continue to treat this as an absolute priority over the coming years.”
