SUNS #4612 Wednesday 23 February 2000

south-north development monitor SUNS [Email Edition]

contents

Development: Forgiving a dying man's debt isn't enough, says OAU President (Martin Khor, Bangkok)

United States: National Summit on Africa ends on uncertain note (IPS, Washington)

Zimbabwe: No light at the end of the tunnel (IPS, Harare)

Development: UNCTAD gets more clout, but short of funds (IPS, Bangkok)

Development: All eyes on how UNCTAD drives vehicle for new order (IPS, Bangkok)

Development: Int'l forum on Venezuela's reconstruction (IPS, Madrid)

DEVELOPMENT: FORGIVING A DYING MAN'S DEBT ISN'T ENOUGH, SAYS OAU PRESIDENT

Bangkok, 21 Feb (Martin Khor) -- A comprehensive analysis of the plight of Africa and a devastating critique of the response to it by Western governments was presented by the President of Algeria and current Chairman of the Organization of African Unity OAU), Abdelaziz Bouteflika, on the final day of UNCTAD X.

Bouteflika's speech and answers to questions, which came at a panel made up of world leaders (including the Prime Ministers of Thailand, Mozambique and Morocco and the President of the Dominican Republic) were a major highlight not only of the final day but of the Conference.

The Algerian President's views and comments were greeted with loud and long applause.

The OAU President's main message was that writing off the debt of 33 poorest African countries which could not pay the debt anyway was only a gesture -- a "macabre scene" where a creditor visits a dying man to forgive his debts.