G8 SUMMIT Blair hails agreement on Africa UPDATE |
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Fri, 08 Jun 2007 10:46
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(Adds quotes)HEILIGENDAMM, Germany (Thomson Financial) - British Prime Minister Tony Blair, attending his final G8 leaders meeting here, hailed the agreement reached on Africa as a 'partnership' between that continent and the developed world.Speaking after the release of the final communique on Africa which made pledges on aid and trade, Blair said 'immense progress' had been made towards securing better trade access for poorer nations.This included 'support for Africa's ability to trade its goods', he said.'We have...recommitted ourselves to all of the commitments we made a couple of years ago at Gleneagles.''But the important thing is that we have now set out how we are going to do them.''Because this is a partnership, it is a deal between Africa and the developed world and just as we have recommitted ourselves to substantial increases in support and help, so Africa has recommitted itself to its responsibilities as part of the partnership.'Blair said both sides were aware 'that we have a long way to go and a lot to do'.'But the truth is there has been immense progress made and probably one really important indication is that Japan has said that for next year's G8 Africa is going to be right at the centre of the agenda and that has got to be good news,' he said.tf.TFN-Europe_newsdesk@thomson.comfp/slm/fp/slmCOPYRIGHTCopyright AFX News Limited 2007. All rights reserved.The copying, republication or redistribution of AFX News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of AFX News.
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