The Inquirer (Monrovia)
7 April 2008
Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is among three African leaders invited to attend a summit on Progressive Governance in London, England, which ended on Saturday.
The two-day summit also attended by twenty world leaders including African Union Chairman, Ghanaian President John Kuffour, as well as South African President Thabo Mbeki, discussed the global challenges facing the world community and the recognition of the need for a coordinated action to respond to the economic, environmental and security challenges.
A dispatch from the Office of the Press Secretary, quoting a communiqué released at the end of the Summit, noted that globalization, driven by advances in information and communications technology, has transformed the world, breaking down traditional boundaries between countries and enabling integration across national frontiers, lifting millions out poverty.
These changes, it was noted, present both unprecedented new opportunities for all, as well as new threats and challenges. The leaders, in the communiqué, made particular mention of the global economic uncertainty, and the need for a collective response. "We believe that Progressives are well-placed to response to these challenges, including thorough effective action by multilateral organizations.
We also need to involve all relevant players in our efforts to address global issues effectively," the leaders pointed out in the communiqué, citing the European Union (EU) as one important element of any international response.
The leaders welcomed the many changes arising from globalisation, and the prosperity it has brought to countries and individuals, but cautioned that it is vital that more is done to spread the benefits of globalisation further, "so that all people have an opportunity to benefit from the possibilities for economic and social development it offers. It is vital, too, that we do not degrade the environment on which this development is dependent," the leaders emphasized.
On poverty and Development, the Progressive Governance Summit recalled the Millennium Summit in 2000, where the international community vowed to spare no effort to achieve the eight key millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
Today, they acknowledged that global inequalities have become more acute, and despite unprecedented global wealth, some2.5 billion people still live on less than $2 a day.
The leaders noted with increasing concern, that although plans were made to eliminate the illiteracy of young people by giving young persons the chance of education and a plan to cut infant and maternal mortality, much progress has not been made toward achieving the goals for 2015 in health and to educate every child.
"Education is the means to break the intergenerational cycle of poor development, disease and aid dependency. It is key to individual opportunity and national growth and the dignity of self reliance.
For every year of schooling in the poorest countries, incomes grow by more than 10-percent. For girls that can be up to 20-percent. To this end, we call for immediate global action to put the Millennium Development Goals at the forefront of the international agenda - only by recognizing that this is truly an emergency can concerted global action be brought about. We commit to work to make 2008 and the following years a turning point in the fight against poverty.
We pledge to work together to help the world get back on track to meet the MDGs," the leaders noted in the communiqué.
The communiqué: "We know we will only succeed if governments, the private sector, and all strands of civil society work together. And to catalyse, inspire and focus activity within this broad coalition - and to measure progress towards the 2015 pledges - today we agree that the world community should give priority to some2010 milestones towards our 2015 goals including:
75 million more people lifted out of extreme poverty in Africa; 25 million more children in school; 4 million more children's lives saved; 35 million more births to be attended by skilled health personnel between now and 2010; 70 million more people given improved access to water.
A series of international meetings throughout 2008 will indentify what more we all need to do to meet these goals and agree concrete action plans. In September, at the UN - and for the first time ever, we will join business and a wide range of civil society groups in an event to mark the halfway point to the MDGs, take stock of progress, and agree additional steps the international community will take to accelerate action."
Meanwhile, Former United States President Bill Clinton, who also participated in discussions at the Progressive Governance Summit, has praised Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and her government for promoting development programs aimed at improving the lives of Liberians.
Mr. Clinton, who represented his Foundation at the Summit, also praised Rwanda for the progress that country has made. Mr. Clinton described Liberia and Rwanda as countries emerging out of conflicts but are providing honest and transparent leaderships to propel development in their respective countries. The former US President, recalling his visit to Liberia over a year ago, acknowledged the progress taking place, particularly regarding the restoration of basic services including electricity.
He lauded the international community for responding to Liberia's needs, but maintained that much needs to be done to enhance the government's efforts to restore the country's basic services, particularly electricity.
The two-day Progressive Governance Summit, held under the theme, 'Promoting Prosperity,' brought together world leaders from 20-countries, including British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, who chaired the summit.
Other participants included the Prime Ministers of Italy, Australia, Lithuania, New Zealand, Norway, and the Slovak Republic as well as the Presidents of Cyprus and Chile, HE Ms. Michelle Bachelet, whose country will host the next session of the Progressive Governance summit in 2009.
It brought together more than 2-hundred observers and international organizations including Presidents of the African Development Bank, and the IMF, as well as UNHCR High Commissioner, UNDP, the World Trade Organization Director General, among others. President Johnson Sirleaf, will Monday hold bilateral talks with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, centered on a number of areas including debt relief, education, security, civil service, among others.
She will also meet with Lord Neil Kinnock, Chair of the British Council, prior to a key note address she will deliver at a conference on Women's Health, at the Queen Elizabeth ll Conference Centre in London. The President, Saturday held talks with the President of Arcelor-Mittal, Mr. Lakshmi Mittal to review progress in the operations of the World's steel giant, which last year signed an agreement with Liberia worth more than $1.5 billion.
President Johnson Sirleaf, who arrived in London Friday, earlier met with members of the Liberian community in London and visited the Liberian Chancery, accompanied by Ambassador Wesley Johnson. The President leaves London for home Monday night.
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