Enough whining about terrer--ism
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Dig in.
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Canada not doing enough to help poor countries: Swedish PM
Last Updated Fri, 15 Oct 2004 19:11:02 EDT
BALATONOSZOD, HUNGARY - Sweden's prime minister has challenged Canada to step up its foreign aid.
Goran Perrson was speaking at a gathering of left-leaning political leaders in Hungary that included Canada's prime minister, Paul Martin.
Perrson said the focus on security issues and terrorism has undercut development issues.
FROM MAY 28, 2003: Foreign aid for poverty, not security: report
The Swedish leader challenged the richest countries in the world to be as committed to helping developing countries as they are to combating terrorism.
"The day after, when the troops have left, you need a doctor, you need a teacher, you need to rebuild," Perrson told the Progressive Governance Summit.
He said his government will increase foreign aid next year — from the United Nations target of 0.7 per cent to one per cent of his country's gross domestic product.
Great Britain, Germany and Canada are the only members of the Group of 8 richest industrial nations that belong to this group. But, Paul Martin was the only one who responded.
"I think what we ought to be doing is increasing our aid," said Martin.
Canada contributes about $3 billion a year to foreign aid, amounting to 0.3 per cent of the GDP, far below the UN requirement. However, it is more than all but two other members of the G-8.
"Obviously, we'd like to see action, not just rhetoric," said Meles Zanawi, Ethiopia's prime minister.
Written by CBC News Online staff