Business on debt ‘still unfinished’ say campaigners
-13/02/06
Debt campaigners have s
Business on debt ‘still unfinished’ say campaigners
-13/02/06
Debt campaigners have said that this weekends meeting of G8 finance ministers has left unfinished business – “still unfinished.”
The Jubilee debt campaign said that the communiquÈ following their meeting in Moscow gave “no hint” of any positive progress on last yearís G8 debt deal, or the new proposals that had been on the agenda from the UK and Russia.
ìThe unfinished business is still unfinished.” said Stephen Rand, co chair, Jubilee Debt Campaign.
ìIf anti-poverty targets are to be met, the G8 deal must become a springboard to further action, not a lame-duck broken promise.î
ìThere is little sign that the G8 Finance Ministers have taken their opportunity this weekend to demonstrate that they really do want to see an end to the debt crisis that still damages the lives of children and adults in the worldís poorest countries,î added Mr Rand.
G8 Finance Ministers met in Moscow on Friday and Saturday, their first meeting since the UK relinquished the Presidency of the G8.
Last year the Finance Ministers initiated the G8ís promises to cancel the IMF, World Bank and African Development Bank debts of eighteen of the worldís poorest countries.
They met against a background of ongoing discussions at the World Bank about the detail of its part of the debt cancellation deal, which some fear that it may be diluted or even negated.
U.S. Treasury Under Secretary Tim Adams indicated the US wanted the World Bank to move faster.
Last month Gordon Brown wrote in an article in The Guardian ìWhen finance ministers meet in Moscow next month, I will propose a post-Gleneagles agenda, founded on delivering the G8 commitments, for the empowerment of developing countries. It should, as a matter of urgency, include:Ö full debt relief for not 38 but all the world’s poorest countries Ö empowerment of the poor will be a false hope until the decades-old debt crisis is fully resolvedÖ In Britain’s view, all 67 of the poorest countries should secure debt relief.î
Business on debt ‘still unfinished’ say campaigners
-13/02/06
Debt campaigners have said that this weekends meeting of G8 finance ministers has left unfinished business – “still unfinished.”
The Jubilee debt campaign said that the communiquÈ following their meeting in Moscow gave “no hint” of any positive progress on last year’s G8 debt deal, or the new proposals that had been on the agenda from the UK and Russia.
‘The unfinished business is still unfinished.” said Stephen Rand, co chair, Jubilee Debt Campaign.
‘If anti-poverty targets are to be met, the G8 deal must become a springboard to further action, not a lame-duck broken promise.’
‘There is little sign that the G8 Finance Ministers have taken their opportunity this weekend to demonstrate that they really do want to see an end to the debt crisis that still damages the lives of children and adults in the world’s poorest countries,’ added Mr Rand.
G8 Finance Ministers met in Moscow on Friday and Saturday, their first meeting since the UK relinquished the Presidency of the G8.
Last year the Finance Ministers initiated the G8’s promises to cancel the IMF, World Bank and African Development Bank debts of eighteen of the world’s poorest countries.
They met against a background of ongoing discussions at the World Bank about the detail of its part of the debt cancellation deal, which some fear that it may be diluted or even negated.
U.S. Treasury Under Secretary Tim Adams indicated the US wanted the World Bank to move faster.
Last month Gordon Brown wrote in an article in The Guardian ‘When finance ministers meet in Moscow next month, I will propose a post-Gleneagles agenda, founded on delivering the G8 commitments, for the empowerment of developing countries. It should, as a matter of urgency, include:Ö full debt relief for not 38 but all the world’s poorest countries Ö empowerment of the poor will be a false hope until the decades-old debt crisis is fully resolvedÖ In Britain’s view, all 67 of the poorest countries should secure debt relief.’