Steve Savicki
06-07-2005, 02:39 PM
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8123802/?GT1=6657
The Associated Press
Updated: 1:54 p.m. ET June 7, 2005
WASHINGTON - A U.S. commitment to providing $674 million for famine relief in Africa may take some of the sting out of President Bush’s opposition to a proposal by British Prime Minister Tony Blair to spend even more money.
However, the other issue topping Blair foreign policy this year — fighting global warming — may further strain his relationship with Bush. Blair has made the issues the twin focus of Britain’s yearlong chairmanship of the G-8 group of wealthy nations, yet Bush has rejected many of his close ally’s ideas on Africa and the environment.
Bush was welcoming Blair to Washington on Tuesday, their first meeting since Blair won a third term in office and his Labour Party suffered heavy losses in Parliament, largely because of voters’ unhappiness about his support for the Iraq war.
Divide on climate change
Blair and Bush have had trouble finding common ground on climate change. Blair says it is one of the most pressing issues, while Bush rejects scientists’ view that manmade pollutants are causing temperatures to increase.
“The important thing is that we do deal with it, that we recognize that there is a need for clear and immediate action to tackle the problem,” Blair told reporters Tuesday after arriving here. “We need to be thinking about how we move beyond the present situation where there is huge emissions of greenhouse gases,” he said.
The joint initiative for famine relief that they were announcing at the White House comes after Blair proposed doubling aid to Africa. The amount of Britain’s contribution to the new program was not disclosed, but it was said to be less than that of the United States.
Blair is likely to be disappointed by the U.S. commitment. He has been pushing a broad, long-term — and far more costly — effort to help Africa’s economy get on its feet, not just emergency food aid. He also wants G-8 countries to commit new money for Africa rather than reallocating funds already earmarked for foreign assistance.
Debt relief on the table
White House spokesman Scott McClellan said the $674 million commitment should be considered separate from any G-8 action. He said the United States is still discussing debt relief for African nations with other members of the G-8, although he would not discuss what additional aid the U.S. might be willing to commit to before Bush’s meeting with Blair.
Blair did say Tuesday that his plan to ease African debt was making good progress among G-8 leaders. He also said the U.S. famine relief plan would be only a small part of the effort to boost African development.
“We are a significant way toward a deal,” on African debt relief ahead of the summit of the G-8 group of wealthy nations in Gleneagles, Scotland, next month, said Blair, briefing reporters at the British embassy. “There are still issues we need to resolve, but I am increasingly hopeful we will get a good deal on that,” he said.
Food emergencies
Blair said the $674 million White House plan for famine relief in Ethiopia and Eritrea, being formally announced later Tuesday, was only a small step toward a $25 billion increase in African aid that he hopes to secure at the coming G-8 summit.
“It is important we deal with the situation in Ethiopia and Eritrea, but obviously, there’s a lot more that needs to be dealt with...the (Bush) administration itself has made clear that this is not the only commitment,” he said.
The money the U.S. has already committed will be drawn from funds already approved for an Agriculture Department food aid account and other funds available in a recent supplemental appropriation.
Besides focusing on the food needs of 14 million people vulnerable to famine in Ethiopia and Eritrea, the joint initiative will address humanitarian needs in Somalia and Djibouti, McClellan said.
Call for more help
“The two leaders will also be calling on other countries to increase their funding to meet this emergency,” McClellan said. “This is something that is needed now, in the coming months.”
Bush and Blair, in a joint news conference Tuesday afternoon, were calling on other countries to increase their commitment to address humanitarian emergencies in Africa, the White House official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the announcement has not been formally made. Besides the $674 million, the United States has earmarked $1.4 billion requested by the United Nations to address emergency needs.
American support is crucial to Blair, but he may face an uphill fight to win it on global warming. The president opposes the Kyoto Protocol, and his administration questions scientists’ views that man-made pollutants are causing temperatures to rise.
What's the common grond here? Is Africa precedence over the war?
The Associated Press
Updated: 1:54 p.m. ET June 7, 2005
WASHINGTON - A U.S. commitment to providing $674 million for famine relief in Africa may take some of the sting out of President Bush’s opposition to a proposal by British Prime Minister Tony Blair to spend even more money.
However, the other issue topping Blair foreign policy this year — fighting global warming — may further strain his relationship with Bush. Blair has made the issues the twin focus of Britain’s yearlong chairmanship of the G-8 group of wealthy nations, yet Bush has rejected many of his close ally’s ideas on Africa and the environment.
Bush was welcoming Blair to Washington on Tuesday, their first meeting since Blair won a third term in office and his Labour Party suffered heavy losses in Parliament, largely because of voters’ unhappiness about his support for the Iraq war.
Divide on climate change
Blair and Bush have had trouble finding common ground on climate change. Blair says it is one of the most pressing issues, while Bush rejects scientists’ view that manmade pollutants are causing temperatures to increase.
“The important thing is that we do deal with it, that we recognize that there is a need for clear and immediate action to tackle the problem,” Blair told reporters Tuesday after arriving here. “We need to be thinking about how we move beyond the present situation where there is huge emissions of greenhouse gases,” he said.
The joint initiative for famine relief that they were announcing at the White House comes after Blair proposed doubling aid to Africa. The amount of Britain’s contribution to the new program was not disclosed, but it was said to be less than that of the United States.
Blair is likely to be disappointed by the U.S. commitment. He has been pushing a broad, long-term — and far more costly — effort to help Africa’s economy get on its feet, not just emergency food aid. He also wants G-8 countries to commit new money for Africa rather than reallocating funds already earmarked for foreign assistance.
Debt relief on the table
White House spokesman Scott McClellan said the $674 million commitment should be considered separate from any G-8 action. He said the United States is still discussing debt relief for African nations with other members of the G-8, although he would not discuss what additional aid the U.S. might be willing to commit to before Bush’s meeting with Blair.
Blair did say Tuesday that his plan to ease African debt was making good progress among G-8 leaders. He also said the U.S. famine relief plan would be only a small part of the effort to boost African development.
“We are a significant way toward a deal,” on African debt relief ahead of the summit of the G-8 group of wealthy nations in Gleneagles, Scotland, next month, said Blair, briefing reporters at the British embassy. “There are still issues we need to resolve, but I am increasingly hopeful we will get a good deal on that,” he said.
Food emergencies
Blair said the $674 million White House plan for famine relief in Ethiopia and Eritrea, being formally announced later Tuesday, was only a small step toward a $25 billion increase in African aid that he hopes to secure at the coming G-8 summit.
“It is important we deal with the situation in Ethiopia and Eritrea, but obviously, there’s a lot more that needs to be dealt with...the (Bush) administration itself has made clear that this is not the only commitment,” he said.
The money the U.S. has already committed will be drawn from funds already approved for an Agriculture Department food aid account and other funds available in a recent supplemental appropriation.
Besides focusing on the food needs of 14 million people vulnerable to famine in Ethiopia and Eritrea, the joint initiative will address humanitarian needs in Somalia and Djibouti, McClellan said.
Call for more help
“The two leaders will also be calling on other countries to increase their funding to meet this emergency,” McClellan said. “This is something that is needed now, in the coming months.”
Bush and Blair, in a joint news conference Tuesday afternoon, were calling on other countries to increase their commitment to address humanitarian emergencies in Africa, the White House official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the announcement has not been formally made. Besides the $674 million, the United States has earmarked $1.4 billion requested by the United Nations to address emergency needs.
American support is crucial to Blair, but he may face an uphill fight to win it on global warming. The president opposes the Kyoto Protocol, and his administration questions scientists’ views that man-made pollutants are causing temperatures to rise.
What's the common grond here? Is Africa precedence over the war?