A PUSH TO HELP AFRICA IS ONE OF THE TOP ISSUES FOR LEADERS AT THE DENVER SUMMIT OF EIGHT. THE HELP COULD BRING BILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO AFRICA'S BLEAK ECONOMIC LANDSCAPE. BUT THERE ARE DISAGREEMENTS AMONG THE MAJOR POWERS ON HOW TO ACCOMPLISH THEIR GOAL.THE UNITED STATES IS STRESSING MORE TRADE AND INVESTMENT AS THE BETTER WAY TO DEVELOP AFRICA. PRESIDENT CLINTON'S PLAN INCLUDES CUTTING U-S TARIFFS ON AFRICAN PRODUCTS, SUPPORTING ACCELERATED DEBT RELIEF AND OFFERING LOAN GUARANTEES TO SPUR INVESTMENT IN 48 SUB SAHARAN NATIONS.
BUT FRANCE SEES GREATER AID AS THE KEY. IT WANTS COUNTRIES LIKE THE UNITED STATES TO GIVE MORE.
AT A PRE-SUMMIT NEWS CONFERENCE, A SPOKESWOMAN FOR FRENCH PRESIDENT JACQUES CHIRAC PLAYED DOWN THE DIFFERENCES. SHE SAID THERE WILL BE A JOINT COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE SUMMIT BUT SHE SAID THAT DOES NOT KEEP EACH COUNTRY FROM EXPRESSING ITS OWN OPINIONS.
THE EUROPEAN UNION SAYS IT HAS ALREADY PROVEN TO BE A LEADER IN THIS AREA. A SPOKESWOMAN IN DENVER, ELLA KRUKOFF, SAID THE ORGANIZATION IS THE WORLD'S LARGEST DONOR TO THE CONTINENT AND WILL CONTINUE TO PROMOTE AFRICA'S GROWTH.
THE UNION HAS BEEN GIVING PREFERENTIAL TRADE TO ALL THE AFRICAN COUNTRIES SINCE ITS VERY BEGINNING. IT'S AN AREA THAT STILL NEEDS MORE IMPROVEMENT AND WE HOPE TO BE IN ON THAT EFFORT AS WELL.
SOME PRIVATE GROUPS ARE URGING A DIFFERENT APPROACH IN HELPING AFRICA. THE U-S / AFRICA TRADE POLICY WORKING GROUP IS URGING THE INDUSTRIALIZED COUNTRIES TO FACILITATE HELP TO AFRICA WITHOUT IMPOSING THEIR OWN AGENDA'S.
THE GROUP COMPILED A LIST OF PRINCIPLES IT THINKS THE COUNTRIES SHOULD FOLLOW. THEY INCLUDE FOCUSING ASSISTANCE ON POVERTY REDUCTION AND HELPING AFRICANS UTILIZE THEIR NON-FINANCIAL RESOURCES TO ACHIEVE ECONOMIC ADVANCEMENT.
19-Jun-97
Source: Voice of America