U.S. and U.K. to Present Africa Proposal at G8 Summit

At a White House press conference, American President George Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair outlined their proposal for a G8 Africa deal to be delivered at the Africa Summit of the G8 in Scotland, July 6-8. Included in the package will be 100% debt cancellation for Heavily Indebted Poor Countries and additional resources to preserve the financial integrity of the World Bank and African Development Bank.

REACTION FROM RICHARD E. STEARNS, PRESIDENT OF WORLD VISION, A FOUNDING MEMBER OF ONE: “World Vision applauds the President’s proposal that the G-8 nations relieve 100 percent of the burdensome debt of several of Africa’s poorest nations and also applauds his plan for additional emergency funding to help ease the fear of an emerging famine in east Africa. Like President Bush, we also praise the commitment and leadership Prime Minister Blair has demonstrated on these and other issues related to improving the lives and livelihood’s of millions of Africans. However, much more needs to be done. As President Bush and I share a bond as Christians, I urge him to consider earmarking one percent of our nation’s wealth for the “least of these.” As a nation, we can bring education, clean water, food and care to transform the future and hope of an entire generation of children affected by poverty, injustice and HIV/AIDS.”

REACTION FROM JAMIE DRUMMOND, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF DATA, A FOUNDING MEMBER OF ONE: “President Bush and Prime Minister Blair underlined significant progress on debt and strong momentum toward a bigger and better debt-aid-trade deal to make poverty history at the Gleneagles G8 Summit. A final debt deal is inches away and will see these countries save hundreds of millions of dollars which they can put into lifesaving programs to fight AIDS and extreme poverty. The principal of 100% debt cancellation with additional resources is now firm policy. President Bush and Prime Minister Blair have co-created real momentum for much more at Gleneagles, with support from Finance Ministers Brown and Snow. We trust the debt deal will be finalized this weekend with finance ministers and the bigger debt-aid trade deal will be announced at the G8 in July, with the world watching.” Read the full transcript of the June 7th Meeting with President Bush and Tony Blair.