Ylva & Hamjatta,I thank you both for your respective postings on debt relief
and AIDS initiatives are very much appreciated. The House vote to increase
the US Debt relief package from $69 to $225 million, including the vote on
the AIDS epidemic, are encouraging signs that the message is begining to get
through lately. Thanks to the determination of those who would like to see
urgent action taken on both fronts.Although the $225 million falls far short
of Clinton's request of $435 million,it is nonetheless a start,driven in
part by the recognition of AIDS-both the UN Security Council and the US
government-as a security threat because it promotes social destabilisation
The campaign by the EU, Jubilee 2000 movement,AfDB and the other regional
banks mus
t continue. The IMF must also demonstrate,in unequivivocal and
convincing terms, its commitment to change the way it does business from now
on. Beneficiary countries must also commit themselves to ensuring that
savings realised from debt relief be funneled directly into education health
rural development and poverty alleviation programmes. Mandela's closing
statement at the AIDS summit in Durban yesterday was very effective in
bringing the AIDS epidemic in Africa to the fore, and at the same time,
bridged the gap between the "dissidents" and "main-stream" scientists. Bill
Gates Foundation's recent substantial contribution to the fight agains AIDS
in Botswana should also be commended. Sidi Sanneh

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L
Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html

----------------------------------------------------------------------------