British Prime Minister Tony Blair threw his weight Friday behind an ambitious campaign to double aid to Africa with an extra 25 billion dollars (19 billion euros) yearly, denouncing the "obscenity" of misery on the continent. "It is, I believe, the fundamental moral challenge of our generation," Blair said at the launch of his multinational Commission for Africa report which coincides with Britain's chairmanship of the G8 group of leading industrial countries.
"There can be no excuse, no defence, no justification for the plight of millions of our fellow beings in Africa today," Blair said.
"In a world where prosperity is increasing... it is an obscenity that should haunt our daily thoughts that four million children will die in Africa this year before their fifth birthday," he added.
The 17-member commission, launched by Blair in February 2004, labelled widespread poverty and economic stagnation in Africa "the greatest tragedy of our time", and proposed a sweeping series of actions by African nations and the international community. "Africa requires a comprehensive 'big push' on many fronts at once," it said in its report, listing corruption, security issues, education, AIDS and health measures and fair trade as major priorities.
African leaders had a duty to accelerate reform and make its governments accountable to their people, but "the developed world had a moral duty - as well as powerful motive of self-interest - to assist Africa," it said.
Blair presented commission's report in London on Friday alongside fellow commissioners including South African Finance Minister Trevor Manuel and Irish pop star turned debt relief campaigner Bob Geldof.
The report's detailed recommendations aim to serve as a blueprint for action for G8 countries when they meet in Scotland in July, and for World Trade Organisation talks in December.
Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, another commissioner, was hosting a concurrent launch in Addis Ababa, while a third event was to be attended in New York by William Kalema, chairman of the Uganda Investment Authority, and British government minister Baroness Valerie Amos, representing Blair.
Blair and his Finance Minister Gordon Brown, also present at the London launch, have put Africa at the top of international agenda this year, during Britain's presidency not only of the G8 but also of the European Union.
The Commission for Africa makes concrete recommendations for action by donor states, but also says Africa must "take the lead" in the effort.
It calls for 100-percent debt relief for poor sub-Saharan countries, an extra 25 billion dollars annually for Africa until 2010 and then, following a review, an extra 50 billion dollars per year.
Each year 10 billion dollars should go to infrastructure - roads and buildings, but also communication technology - another 10 billion to health services, and eight billion to education reform.
It also cautions donors against attaching too many strings to their money, saying aid should come as cash grants and without "policy conditionality".
Aid "must be given in ways that make governments answerable primarily to their own people," it said.
Wealthy countries must also agree to eliminate agricultural subsidies that protect farmers but distort international trade and harm Africa, the report argues.
Finally, Africans have to have a greater say on the global scene, at financial institutions like the World Bank and International Monetary Fund, but also at the United Nations. The commission called for "greater African representation" on the UN Security Council but stopped short of calling for a permanent seat.
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