Blair seeks to bring Bush on board poverty agenda

From ABC Australia and reporter John Shovelan

ELEANOR HALL: The leaders of two of the world's wealthiest countries met in Washington today to try to work out what to do about the poorest continent on the planet – Africa.

But while a lot of money has been promised, the proposal put forward today by US President George W. Bush has not matched up to British Prime Minister Tony Blair's ambitions.

As host of the next G8 summit, Mr Blair has made eliminating African poverty a key goal for the developed world, and he met US President George W. Bush at the White House to try to bring him on board.

Prime Minister Blair also challenged the Bush administration's position on global warming. But in his meeting today he failed to convince the US President on his formula for either, as John Shovelan reports.

JOHN SHOVELAN: Today was Washington in what's part of an international lobbying blitz by the British Prime Minister ahead of next month's G8 summit. He's already had talks with Italian Prime Minister and will visit the leaders of France, Germany and Russia before the summit in Gleneagles Scotland.

Prime Minister Blair is seeking a doubling of international aid for Africa, in an effort to get beyond emergency relief in favour of a more comprehensive, long-term help for the continent's problems.

TONY BLAIR: I think there is a real and common desire to help that troubled continent come out of the poverty and deprivation that so many millions of its people suffer. In a situation where literally thousands of children die from preventable diseases every day, it's our duty to act, and we will.

JOHN SHOVELAN: But President Bush offered no commitment to double aid. His administration announced a food aid package of about US $850 million – money which comes from an existing allocation.

REPORTER: Prime Minister Blair has been pushing for wealthy nations to double aid to Africa. With American aid levels among the lowest in the G8 as a proportion of national income, and the problems on the continent so dire, why isn't doubling US aid a good idea?

GEORGE BUSH: Well, first as I said in my statement, we tripled aid to Africa. Africa is an important part of my foreign policy. I remember when I first talked to Condy when I was trying to convince her to become the National Security Advisor, she said are you going to pay attention to the continent of Africa? I said, you bet. And I fulfilled that commitment.

In terms of whether or not the formula that you commented upon are the right way to analyse the United States commitment – I don't think it is. We've got a significant HIV-AIDS initiative that we're undertaking. Our country is taking the lead in Africa and we'll stay there. It's the right thing to do, it's important to help Africa get on her feet.

JOHN SHOVELAN: The left leaning Centre for American Progress issued a statement saying "when it comes to delivering desperately needed aid to Africa, President Bush has refused to meet Blair part-way, let alone halfway. His offer amounts to a phantom that will do nothing to reverse the trend towards poverty in Africa."

Both leaders have reached a deal on debt relief for poor countries but have to seek agreement from the other G8 creditors before it can be implemented.

TONY BLAIR: I think in relation to the debt cancellation, yes, I think we're well on the way to agreement on that.