He said “The urgent task now must be for the G-8 to follow up the commitments with clear, time-bound plans for implementation."
"The forthcoming UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark, presents a critical moment to get this right – for both Africa and the rest of the world," Annan stated in a news release made available to PANA here.
The panel's response welcomes a number of commitments made by G-8 countries, inc luding steps to address the global food crisis, but calls for pledges to be followed up urgently with detailed plans for implementation.
On the issue of Zimbabwe, the panel, welcomed the clear position the G-8 has tak en on Zimbabwe and agreed that the legitimacy of the government depended on it reflecting the freely expressed will of the Zimbabwean people.
The panel joined the G-8 in supporting the African Union’s call to encourage Zim babwean leaders to initiate dialogue with a view to promoting peace and stability.
On aid commitments, the panel said, “G-8 countries have done little to show how they will fund the shortfall of US$ 40 billion in programmable aid and debt relief, identified by the Africa Progress Panel last month…the G-8 has yet to present clear timetables outlining future aid provision or to provide increased transparency, required to improve the quality of aid.”
The panel also welcomes the commitment of US$ 10 billion to support food aid and measures to increase agricultural input as a necessary first step, but, however, said more needed to be done to increase the supply of food to the world’s most vulnerable citizens and immediate measures must be taken to relax export restrictions on commodities such as rice.
“At a time of economic turbulence, I welcome the fact that Africa has remained an important focus of attention at the G-8 summit in Hokkaido and I commend the Japanese government for working so comprehensively to engage African leaders both before and during the summit.
“The summit has resulted in a number of important steps to address the global food crisis and provided the longer term measures required to stimulate agricultural production in Africa.
"There have also been a number of commitments on aid, trade and climate change. However, the commitments have not been accompanied by the details needed for go v ernments to deliver and civil society to hold them to account," Annan said.
Lusaka - 10/07/2008
Pana
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