G8 - A COLLECTIVE VISION

At The Pre-G8 Dinner Hosted by The Governor-General of Canada

Canada. 26 June, 2002

I am very pleased to be here today on the eve of a historic meeting of Africans with G8 Leaders in Kananaskis tomorrow. On behalf of the African participants at this dinner, I thank the Governor-General, The Right Honourable Mrs Adrienne Clarkson, the Government and the people of Canada, for the very warm reception accorded us, since our arrival here.

Let me express our appreciation to all the G8 Leaders and member-nations, for the dialogue and cordial relations between our two sides. The origin of our interaction dates back to the G8 Summit in Tokyo when President Bouteflika of Algeria, as Chairman of the OAU, President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa, as Chairman of the Non-Aligned Movement, and myself, as Chairman of the G77 & China South-South Summit, met with the G8 leaders to discuss the plight of Africa, and find ways and means of eradicating poverty and promoting sustainable development in the continent. This group has subsequently been expanded to include President Mubarak of Egypt and President Wade of Senegal.

The OAU and G8 Summits endorsed NEPAD last July. The G8 Summit has since selected a high-powered group of experts as representatives in an Action Plan Group with the assignment to work out a programme of support for NEPAD in consultation with African leaders. The Action Plan Group has met five times with the NEPAD Steering Committee which also comprises representatives of African leaders. The report of the Action Plan Group will be the main subject of our meeting with the G8 Leaders tomorrow, at Kananaskis.

Madam Governor-General, we note with satisfaction that the on-going African engagement with the G8 is unique in the twenty-seven years of this powerful world body, and we appreciate that this demonstrates the concern of our development partners for the plight of Africa. It is also remarkable that the G8 endorsement of NEPAD has had the salutary effect of galvanising the interest of the international community as a whole for this autonomous initiative coming from Africa. One behalf of African of African leaders and African peoples, I sincerely thank the G8 Leaders for their support.

Let me reiterate here, that NEPAD remains the collective vision of African leaders to eradicate poverty, promote sustainable development and put Africa on the path of stability and prosperity in the 21^st Century. We are under no illusion that we have embarked on an easy task. But we know one thing: we are resolute, and we are determined to pursue success for this programme, whilst hoping to count on the support of the G8 Leaders, as well as our development partners in other parts of the world.

As we go to Kananaskis tomorrow, we do not expect magic wand from our G8 friends. Our main is for their sustained support. We know - and fully accept - that the primary responsibility of changing the fortune of Africa for the better rests squarely on us Africans. It cannot be otherwise.

Madam Governor-General, let me, on behalf of my fellow African leaders here present, once again express appreciation for the hospitality of the people and Government of Canada. We all look forward to continued cordial and fruitful relations between Canada and Africa. And we look forward to a successful meeting at Kananaskis tomorrow.

I thank you.