Blair warns West will suffer if it fails Africa

"The more I look at what is happening in Africa, in some of the worst trouble spots, in Sudan and Somalia and so on, the more I am convinced that if we do not take a responsible and long-term view of Africa and its need to develop and make progress then we will end up ultimately with our own self-interest back in countries like Germany and the UK being damaged as a result of the poverty, the conflict, the mass migration and the spread of terrorism," he told journalists.

by Guy Jackson Tue Apr 24, 3:54 PM ET

BERLIN (AFP) - Prime Minister
Tony Blair warned here on Tuesday that wealthy Western countries would ultimately suffer if they failed to fulfill their pledges to help the development of Africa.

Blair, former UN chief Kofi Annan and German Chancellor Angela Merkel met in the German capital to discuss the work of the Africa Progress Panel. Chaired by by Annan, it was set up last June to monitor the progress of rich countries in meeting their commitments to Africa.

Leaders of the Group of Eight most industrialised nations pledged at the British-hosted Gleneagles summit two years ago to grant substantial debt relief and double aid to Africa by 2010.

While the debt relief goals have largely been met, most G8 countries are well behind on the aid targets.

Merkel has promised that Africa will be also one of the key themes at this year's G8 summit hosted by Germany.

Blair said debt relief to Africa had totalled around 38 billion dollars (28 billion euros) in recent years and there had been "significant, though not enough, increases in the aid money that has been given."

He said the consequences of failing to help Africa could be dire.

"The more I look at what is happening in Africa, in some of the worst trouble spots, in Sudan and Somalia and so on, the more I am convinced that if we do not take a responsible and long-term view of Africa and its need to develop and make progress then we will end up ultimately with our own self-interest back in countries like Germany and the UK being damaged as a result of the poverty, the conflict, the mass migration and the spread of terrorism," he told journalists.

Blair said it had been shown that "where the help is given it does make a difference.

"There are health service systems and education systems being transformed and changed as a result of the help and commitment that has been given by the international community," he added.

Merkel and Annan said the Africa Progress Panel was seeking to ensure that existing debt targets were met.

"We are not asking for new promises, we are asking for the implementation of what has been promised and I am encouraged by the meeting we've had and by the support we've received from both leaders," Annan said.

The former UN Secretary General said African leaders were increasingly aware that "they have to solve these political conflicts to be able to focus on the economic and social issues."

He pointed to conflicts resolved in Angola, Sierre Leone, Liberia, Burundi, and Eritrea and Ethiopia as proof that Africa could get its own house in order.

Annan said earlier he would be delighted if Blair were to join the panel after he left office this year. Blair is yet to reveal his future plans.

Merkel said it was time for wealthy countries to meet their pledges.

"We don't need more meetings to set targets, we already have the targets. Now we need to make a certain amount of progress.

"The German presidency (of the G8) will take over the impulse of Gleneagles," she said.

The G8 summit takes place on June 6-8 in Heiligendamm and will be attended by the leaders of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and the United States.