March 12, 2005
Meles takes the test
Tony Blair's Commission for Africa launched its long-awaited report in Addis Ababa yesterday. The report was basically a 400-page blueprint for pulling Africa out if its continued downward spiral into deeper and deeper poverty. It has more than 80 recommendations for African countries and the governments of the developed word. Here is the full PDF download.
Quote of the day came from Meles Zenawi, Ethiopia's Prime Minister:
The report does clearly indicate that we Africans have made a mess out of our countries. It does not mince words about that. But, unlike most other reports, it says that we had partners in making a mess out of our countries. And these partners happen to be the developed world.
Most of the speeches and presentations were too general and polished to be actually interesting. But the PR sheen cracked once, during a question and answer session between the press and, once again, the Ethiopian Prime Minister.
A reporter from The Reporter newspaper asked him whether Ethiopia was going to take up the recommendations of the report and improve its own governance. (The Reporter reporter said some had described recent legislation controlling the charity sector and the press as "draconian" and "against the letter of the constitution".) He went on to ask the Prime Minister why he hadn't taken a lead in the fight against HIV/Aids by taking a test.
Here is Meles's answer:
Well the report will have dividends in terms of improving governance in Africa and therefore in Ethiopia. We can have our differences as to what we specifically mean. I would for example dismiss completely the premises behind your question. But that's not the point. The point is that the Africa Commission recognises that there has to be dramatic improvements in governance everywhere in Africa and everywhere in Africa means Ethiopia also...Now, with regards to HIV/Aids, I believe we are doing very good job. I do not believe in personalising issues. I believe in working through institutions. That has been my life over the past 30 years. There are others who would like to take personal as opposed to institutional leadership. One can argue both sides. My inclination is to let institutions provide the leadership and not personalise issues. I have not personalised any issue including HIV/Aids. But as far as tests and so on are concerned. I have done what is expected of me. I have also been tested. If I have not been marketing it perhaps I need to market it better and perhaps you can help me in doing it.
Posted by aheavens at March 12, 2005 11:47 AM