Kofi Annan, former secretary-general of the UN, is normally the most mild-mannered of men. His peace-making has always been based on patience, persuasion and a capacity to listen calmly to all.
Lately, however, he seems to have been losing his cool. He has just written a blunt personal letter to Silvio Berlusconi, the Italian prime minister, pointing out that Italy is lagging behind all the other rich nations in giving aid to Africa. It is a blatant attempt at naming and shaming.
Mr Berlusconi, of course, is the person who is chairing this week's summit of the Group of Eight industrialised nations in L'Aquila, on the edge of the area devastated by an earthquake on April 6. Although he chose the venue to demonstrate solidarity with earthquake victims, he has turned the event into an extravaganza with no fewer than 39 heads of state and govern- ment, and of international institutions, in attendance.
Africa is supposed to be a central part of the agenda, plus climate change, health and food security. That is why Mr Annan is so frustrated.
Since the G8 nations agreed at Gleneagles in 2005 to double their aid to Africa by 2010, Japan has increased its official assistance by 150 per cent and Canada by 206 per cent, he says. The US, UK and Germany are roughly on track to deliver, but France is lagging behind and Italy is going backwards: in 2009 Italian aid administered by the foreign ministry is being cut by 56 per cent.
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http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/fc562fe6-6a8d-11de-ad04-00144feabdc0.html
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