OTTAWA - The federal government says an international initiative to lift Africa out of poverty is more relevant than ever after the Sept. 11 attacks, since abandoning it could risk turning the continent into a safe haven for terrorists.
Over recent weeks, Ottawa has insisted it will stick to the plan -- designed to combat some of Africa's most serious problems -- when it assumes the presidency of the G8 nations next year.
Robert Fowler, Prime Minister Jean Chrétien's personal representative with overall responsibility for next year's G8 summit, said the global fight against terrorism had significant implications for Africa.
"I think the world has realized post-Sept. 11 that it is probably pretty deeply unwise to allow large numbers of people -- regionally or ethnically or racially or religiously defined -- to become utterly desperate, hopeless," he said in an interview.
Mr. Fowler said most statistics showed the quality of life across great swaths of the continent was getting worse. "Quite aside from the moral or ethical issues involved, and I would argue they are significant, there is a geostrategic element post Sept. 11 that can't be ignored," he said.
"Africa cannot be allowed to become a safe haven for terrorists if we get a lot better at ensuring that other parts of the world are not havens either."
At a G8 summit in Genoa, Italy, this year, world leaders approved a development plan for Africa. Representatives of 10 African nations have established a joint forum to develop a concrete action plan with G8 officials which will be presented to leaders at the 2002 summit.
Mr. Fowler is on the forum, which will meet from Dec 6-8 in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa.
Since Sept. 11 the international focus has switched to the fight against terrorism, prompting fears the African initiative might be sidelined. But Mr. Fowler said he would make clear to other G8 representatives at a meeting in Rome next week that Mr. Chrétien would not abandon Africa at the G8 summit in June in Kananaskis, Alta.
Mr. Fowler said Africa could play a role in easing tensions between Western nations and Muslim countries unhappy about U.S. bombing attacks on Afghanistan.
"There are large Islamic populations in [countries] that are traditional African partners through which we can build bridges to other Islamic populations," he said.
"So all of this says to me that Africa remains a vitally important part of the world and certainly no less since Sept. 11."
The G8 comprises the United States, Britain, Germany, France, Italy, Japan, Canada and Russia.
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