G8 SUMMIT: A debt reduction scheme for the world's poorest countries is to be extended by a further two years, following an agreement reached by world leaders yesterday. Carl O'Brien reports from Savannah
It was one of several initiatives launched as leaders from six African countries met leaders of the Group of Eight (G8) industrialised nations to find ways of addressing development issues and debt reduction.
The initiative for Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC), managed by the International Monetary Fund, had been due to finish at the end of 2004.
The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, who was attending the G8 summit in his capacity as leader of the European Council, called for the aid package to be extended. He also appealed for the complete cancellation of debt for some countries.
He said the criteria of the existing initiative did not go far enough towards addressing real poverty and that the HIPC programme should be improved.
G8 leaders also endorsed a global initiative yesterday to develop a HIV vaccine aimed at combating the spread of AIDS.
Officials said yesterday's agreement on combating HIV was the first co-ordinated drive to pool scientific knowledge and funds in a bid to produce an effective vaccine.
The six-point plan involves the development of vaccine research centres, manufacturing facilities and clinical trials involving scientists from around the world.
While G8 members did not publicly pledge specific amounts of money for the vaccine research programme, officials said they will be free to contribute money to the initiative over time.
The HIV vaccine programme grew out of a proposal put together by a group of scientists last year who called for an alliance among governments, scientists and other organisations to develop a plan that would share information relating to the development of a single vaccine.
G8 leaders were also expected to look at plans to train and equip more than 50,000 peacekeepers over the next five years, particularly for deployment in Africa.
US officials said the initiative had grown out of African requests for assistance in ending the civil wars plaguing the continent.
Details of a food security programme which will increase the amount of resources directed into agricultural development in the Horn of Africa were also agreed.
Leaders also signed off on a plan to fight corruption in Third World countries, which is cited as one of the major obstacles to development.
"What we're trying to do is break the cycle of famine in the Horn of Africa, including Ethiopia, where there are five million people who are really on the edge of starvation," a senior White House official said.
"We're working with the Ethiopian government on a comprehensive agriculture reform programme, including land reform.
"We're working hard to help developing countries identify and recover to their own countries any proceeds that former corrupt leaders may have essentially stolen and shipped out of the country," the White House official added.