Clinton: More U.S. Africa Aid Needed

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, October 10, 2002

Clinton: More U.S. Africa Aid Needed

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Relief for the health problems, economic woes and violence plaguing Africa is being hindered by widespread ignorance in many industrial nations, including the United States, former President Clinton said Wednesday.

Many Americans view Africa as a single country rather than a continent, Clinton said.

Just back from his latest African tour, which included visits to Ghana, Mozambique, Nigeria and South Africa, Clinton said he still makes Africa a priority because many of its problems affect the United States.

Millions of Africans live on less than a dollar a day and life expectancy in most nations there is about "48 years and falling," Clinton said. The AIDS epidemic is especially bad in Africa, where 28 million people are infected with the HIV virus. That's about 70 percent of the world's infected population, he said.

"I think this problem of ignorance of Africa is one the world will pay dearly for if it is not corrected," Clinton said during a speech at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars.

Clinton said he hoped to see African nations with HIV infection rates of 15 percent or higher be granted additional debt relief to help free up revenues for AIDS programs.

He also wants to see trade benefits expanded under the African Growth and Opportunity Act implemented two years ago. The measure has increased African exports by more than 60 percent since it was enacted, Clinton said. The act expires in 2008, and Clinton urged expanding it to 2020, "by which time I hope we'll have a global trade system which will render its provisions irrelevant."

The former president said he found hope in the increased attention world leaders are paying to Africa, and he praised the Bush administration for recent visits by Secretary of State Colin Powell and Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill.

"I think it's important to our future, because they (African nations) have enormous problems and enormous promise," he said.

Source: Agencies

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