Britain will warn the United States this weekend that the fight against terror will be hampered by poverty in Africa as the government launches a concerted diplomatic effort to secure George Bushs support for more generous debt relief and a doubling of aid.
The chancellor, Gordon Brown, will join the foreign secretary, Jack Straw, at talks with the new US secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice, on Friday at which the two cabinet ministers will stress the security benefits to America of backing Britains proposals for development in the worlds poorest continent.
James Wolfensohn, president of the World Bank, Tuesday backed Britains plan for Africa but warned that rising defence spending, a growing budget deficit and an obstructive Congress would pose severe obstacles to winning Washingtons backing.
Mr Wolfensohn said the west should not underestimate the impact of the growing global gulf between rich and poor. – My hope is there is a recognition now on behalf of the rich world that they cannot continue to be rich if the world is destabilised by poverty, he said.
Mr Wolfensohns message will be taken up by the prime minister, the chancellor and the foreign secretary over the coming days as Britain prepares to host a meeting of G7 finance ministers on Friday and Saturday.
Tony Blair intends to put pressure on Mr Bush to support the UK initiative, while the chancellor will lobby the US treasury secretary, John Snow, in addition to meeting Ms Rice.
Mr Brown said Tuesday: – We will be trying to persuade America that debt relief and extra finance for development is in its interests not just because it is good economics and social policy but good for its security as well.
With global security a priority for Mr Bush in his second term, Britain believes there is a good chance that Washington will back a modern version of the Marshall Plan, which provided aid to postwar Europe as a bulwark against communism.
– If the US wants to separate the extremists from those that they are trying to influence, it makes good sense to show how industrial nations can implement a Marshall Plan for developing countries, the chancellor said, adding:
– US interests point to the wisdom of the international finance facility and debt relief that will show that rich countries believe that globalisation should be about social justice on a global scale.
Britain has secured the backing of the three other European members of the G7 – Germany, France and Italy – for its international finance facility, a scheme to double annual aid flows to 100 billion US dollar (570 milliarder DKR ) by selling bonds on the worlds capital markets. Ministers recognise, however, that the support of the worlds biggest economy and only superpower will be vital.
– There is a sense of momentum. We are winning support. Now is the time to take the next step forward. We are making a major push this weekend. We are demanding action this weekend from the G7, Mr. Brown said.
The US has raised three objections to the UK blueprint.
The first is that the idea of selling bonds on capital markets to double aid over the next 10 years is a non-starter because one Congress cannot limit the freedom of action of a future Congress.
The second is that Congress would be unwilling, in any case, to vote more money.
The third is that any financial help would not be wisely spent.
Mr Brown believes that all three can be overcome, and that the mood on Capitol Hill, particularly among Republicans, is changing.
The World Bank president said Tuesday he was happy to help the UK in its diplomatic efforts. – This is the moment we can help Africa. If Britain wants us to participate in the scheme, we would be delighted to help, he said
Mr Wolfensohn, who leaves the Bank in May, called for a switch in spending from arms to aid. – Military expenditure in the United States will top 500 billion dollar this year, and I think not just the US, but the entire world is spending far too much on military expenditure and much too little on development, he added.
Africa, he said, had no chance on current trends of hitting the United Nations millennium development goals for 2015, which include halving the number of people living on less than a dollar a day, cutting infant mortality by two thirds and putting every child in school.
Rich countries needed to keep their promises on aid and trade, while developing countries needed to keep their promises on governance and corruption.
Kilde: The Push Journal
