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Blair looks to sell Bush on Africa, global warming
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-06-03 18:42
LONDON - Britain's Tony Blair will try to sell his plans to lift Africa out
of poverty and tackle global warming to a reluctant President Bush next week
with supporters and critics declaring now is the time to deliver.
The
prime minister, who will be in Washington on Monday and Tuesday, has staked his
reputation on helping Africa during Britain's presidency of the G8 group of rich
nations.
He has also pledged to address climate change, despite America's refusal to
sign up to the Kyoto protocol on cutting greenhouse gases.
Few doubt Blair's commitment on both issues but his belief that standing
loyally with Bush -- through Afghanistan and Iraq -- was in Britain's national
interest faces a severe test.
If he gets no payback from his U.S. ally now, there will be upset. "He must
cash in that political capital," one senior aid campaigner said.
With just a month to go until the leaders of the G8 nations meet in Scotland,
London is frantic for progress.
Blair has already flown to Italy for talks with Prime Minister Silvio
Berlusconi and will visit the leaders of France, Germany and Russia in the
run-up to the Gleneagles summit.
"This visit is ... an opportunity for the prime minister to speak personally
with President Bush about securing the progress we need to see on Africa and
climate change at Gleneagles," Blair's spokesman said.
PRESSURE
The pressure to act was ratcheted up by Bob Geldof this week as he announced
five star-studded concerts aimed at pressuring world leaders into eradicating
African poverty.
The man who organized the 1985 Live Aid concert to ease famine in Ethiopia
also wants protestors to lobby the G8.
"Eight world leaders in one room in Scotland on the 8th of July can save
millions and millions of lives, but they will only do it if enough people tell
them to," he said.
Geldof has expressed admiration for Blair's efforts. But if Britain's premier
comes away empty-handed the abrasive Irishman and others will not be slow to
lambaste him.
The Bush administration and other nations are unconvinced by Britain's plan
for an "International Finance Facility" that would double aid for poor countries
by issuing bonds against rich states' future aid budgets.
British government sources are now floating the idea of pressing ahead
without U.S. involvement.
Nor has London won a critical mass of support for a scheme to sell off IMF
gold to fund further debt relief for Africa.
Trade reform, cutting barriers to African goods, also looks far from certain,
not least as G8 member France has just voted against a European Union
constitution, partly in protest at globalization and free market economics.
"In the short-term more aid is needed, more debt relief is needed. But the
big thing that is going to make a difference for Africa in the future is trade,"
said Andrew Pendleton of charity Christian Aid.
Blair's aides have begun edging away from Gleneagles as a make-or-break
moment, saying a United Nations summit in September and World Trade Organization
talks in December are equally important staging posts.
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