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Bono urges countries to keep aid promises
U2 frontman Bono says governments of rich countries that have promised to help Africa fight poverty and disease should come good on their offers of cash.
The rock star and activist, a regular on the world business and aid circuit, is meeting political and business leaders at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
He says it is time for rich countries to come good on promises they have made to cancel the debts of African nations and help fund their futures.
At a meeting in 2005, the G8 group of industrialised nations agreed to cancel the debts of 18 low-income countries and pledged to double African aid to about $61 billion by 2010.
"There were some serious promises made," Bono said.
"The cheques were signed but as you know, politicians like signing cheques but they don't like cashing them.
"Two years on, it's time to take the temperature.
"If those promises are not kept... it will make a generation of cynics.
"I don't believe that's going to happen, I am optimistic we're going to get through this."
Bono says debt-cancellation programs have already opened the way for 20 million African children to go to school but there is still much work to do.
He has pointed to the situation in Liberia, where President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf is working to attract aid and get relief for the country's $4.8 billion debt, racked up during years of conflict fuelled by money from the sale of diamonds.
"She is trying to quell civil unrest and she's got this ridiculous debt hanging over her head because of two corrupt leaders before, and that is just not right," Bono said.
- Reuters
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200701/s1834792.htm
U2 frontman Bono says governments of rich countries that have promised to help Africa fight poverty and disease should come good on their offers of cash.
The rock star and activist, a regular on the world business and aid circuit, is meeting political and business leaders at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
He says it is time for rich countries to come good on promises they have made to cancel the debts of African nations and help fund their futures.
At a meeting in 2005, the G8 group of industrialised nations agreed to cancel the debts of 18 low-income countries and pledged to double African aid to about $61 billion by 2010.
"There were some serious promises made," Bono said.
"The cheques were signed but as you know, politicians like signing cheques but they don't like cashing them.
"Two years on, it's time to take the temperature.
"If those promises are not kept... it will make a generation of cynics.
"I don't believe that's going to happen, I am optimistic we're going to get through this."
Bono says debt-cancellation programs have already opened the way for 20 million African children to go to school but there is still much work to do.
He has pointed to the situation in Liberia, where President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf is working to attract aid and get relief for the country's $4.8 billion debt, racked up during years of conflict fuelled by money from the sale of diamonds.
"She is trying to quell civil unrest and she's got this ridiculous debt hanging over her head because of two corrupt leaders before, and that is just not right," Bono said.
- Reuters
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200701/s1834792.htm