Plenty of Oil, But Not Generosity

Britain, seeking to salvage its planned debt relief deal for Africa ahead of next month’s rich nations’ summit, is to ask oil-rich Arab states to contribute more, the Observer newspaper said on Sunday.

 

The current holder of the G7 presidency, Britain has declared 2005 a make-or-break year for Africa but its proposals for easing the burden of African debt have been coolly received by its partners including the United States.

 

“It is critical that all wealthy countries, including the richer, oil producing states join in,” Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown wrote in the newspaper.

 

Despite their oil wealth, the Gulf states have had little tradition of donating overseas aid.

About the Author

An Australian immigrant to Israel, Aussie Dave has been blogging since early 2003.

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Tags: United Kingdom