While encouraged by the commitment to increased financial aid for
African countries, agreed to at the recent G8 meeting in
Gleneagles, Scotland, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan's special
envoy to Africa and former Mozambican President Joaquim Chissano
said he had some concerns about the strings being attached to the
scheme.
G8 leaders this month agreed on a support package for Africa, including a $50-billion aid package, debt cancellation and progress towards a deal on fair trade.
Chissano, who spoke in South Africa yesterday as part of his mandate to promote Annan's report, 'In larger freedom: towards development, security and human rights for all', said that development initiatives like debt relief and financial aid should emphasise the interests of the recipient countries, and not those of the donors.
“It's a question of trust, of forming real partnerships,” he said.
The G8 aid and debt-relief resolutions, as well as previous aid packages, have been criticised for imposing excessive demands on developing nations in exchange for aid.
Nonetheless, Chissano said that, in order to meet the UN's millennium development goals, particularly that of eradicating extreme poverty and hunger, it was necessary for developing countries to take “serious action” with regard to governance and mobilisation of resources.
But, on the other hand, developed states must increase their assistance, and this should start now, he said.
Regarding the contentious questions of open markets and subsidisation, Chissano said that, while it is critical that these be tackled and the playing fields levelled, attention must also be given to ensuring that developing economies have commodities to sell on a global market.
He said that increased investment into agriculture and industry are key and this is where the private sector can play the biggest role.
Chissano is one of five special envoys appointed by Annan to meet with UN members in preparation for the September 2005 UN Millennium Review Summit, where world leaders will meet to review progress made since the adoption of the UN Millennium Declaration, in 2000.
Chissano said yesterday that, as he meets with African heads of state in the run-up to the summit, his primary focus is to urge the leaders not to place excessive emphasis on the ongoing debate around the enlargement of the UN Security Council, to the detriment of other global development issues.
The African Union has put forward a proposal for two permanent and five nonpermanent seats on the Security Council.
Expanding the Security Council has been under discussion for a number of years but the issue was fast-tracked this year by Annan, who argued the council was unrepresentative and should be reformed before the September summit.
Germany, Japan, Brazil and India have called on the General Assembly to enlarge the Security Council from 15 to 25, with six new permanent seats, including two for Africa, but without veto power for any new member.
The AU's draft resolution asks for the council to be enlarged to 26 seats, one more permanent seat than the four aspirants.
Chissano refused to be drawn on which African nations were likely to fill the seats, if they are awarded, saying only that the countries intended first to fight the battle for the seats on the Council, following which discussions would be held.
“This is an important step, as it shows the intentions of Africans to be present at and more active in discussions and decisions regarding world affairs,” he said.
However, he emphasised that the reform agenda of the continent and the UN should be in the context of a balanced discussion, and that the Security Council reforms, while important, should not receive undue prominence in debates.
Chissano said that the three main areas covered in the Secretary-General's report are security, human rights and development, all of which have important implications for African nations.
Chissano confirmed reports that he had been approached by Nigerian President Olesegun Obasanjo to form part of the AU's envoy to Zimbabwe and had accepted the request.
He said that he will consult with leaders in the beleaguered Southern African nation, but could not provide a timeframe for the process.
G8 leaders this month agreed on a support package for Africa, including a $50-billion aid package, debt cancellation and progress towards a deal on fair trade.
Chissano, who spoke in South Africa yesterday as part of his mandate to promote Annan's report, 'In larger freedom: towards development, security and human rights for all', said that development initiatives like debt relief and financial aid should emphasise the interests of the recipient countries, and not those of the donors.
“It's a question of trust, of forming real partnerships,” he said.
The G8 aid and debt-relief resolutions, as well as previous aid packages, have been criticised for imposing excessive demands on developing nations in exchange for aid.
Nonetheless, Chissano said that, in order to meet the UN's millennium development goals, particularly that of eradicating extreme poverty and hunger, it was necessary for developing countries to take “serious action” with regard to governance and mobilisation of resources.
But, on the other hand, developed states must increase their assistance, and this should start now, he said.
Regarding the contentious questions of open markets and subsidisation, Chissano said that, while it is critical that these be tackled and the playing fields levelled, attention must also be given to ensuring that developing economies have commodities to sell on a global market.
He said that increased investment into agriculture and industry are key and this is where the private sector can play the biggest role.
Chissano is one of five special envoys appointed by Annan to meet with UN members in preparation for the September 2005 UN Millennium Review Summit, where world leaders will meet to review progress made since the adoption of the UN Millennium Declaration, in 2000.
Chissano said yesterday that, as he meets with African heads of state in the run-up to the summit, his primary focus is to urge the leaders not to place excessive emphasis on the ongoing debate around the enlargement of the UN Security Council, to the detriment of other global development issues.
The African Union has put forward a proposal for two permanent and five nonpermanent seats on the Security Council.
Expanding the Security Council has been under discussion for a number of years but the issue was fast-tracked this year by Annan, who argued the council was unrepresentative and should be reformed before the September summit.
Germany, Japan, Brazil and India have called on the General Assembly to enlarge the Security Council from 15 to 25, with six new permanent seats, including two for Africa, but without veto power for any new member.
The AU's draft resolution asks for the council to be enlarged to 26 seats, one more permanent seat than the four aspirants.
Chissano refused to be drawn on which African nations were likely to fill the seats, if they are awarded, saying only that the countries intended first to fight the battle for the seats on the Council, following which discussions would be held.
“This is an important step, as it shows the intentions of Africans to be present at and more active in discussions and decisions regarding world affairs,” he said.
However, he emphasised that the reform agenda of the continent and the UN should be in the context of a balanced discussion, and that the Security Council reforms, while important, should not receive undue prominence in debates.
Chissano said that the three main areas covered in the Secretary-General's report are security, human rights and development, all of which have important implications for African nations.
Chissano confirmed reports that he had been approached by Nigerian President Olesegun Obasanjo to form part of the AU's envoy to Zimbabwe and had accepted the request.
He said that he will consult with leaders in the beleaguered Southern African nation, but could not provide a timeframe for the process.
Advertisement
EMAIL THIS ARTICLE SAVE THIS ARTICLE FEEDBACK
To subscribe email subscriptions@creamermedia.co.za or click here
To advertise email advertising@creamermedia.co.za or click here
