The Group-8 member countries and the European Union (EU) Pledged Tuesday to support the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD).
Briefing the press in the Zambian capital Lusaka, the eight developed countries and the EU said the developmental plan is a realistic and comprehensive program of action to end Africa's economic marginalization based on shared responsibility and mutualinterest.
EU country representative Jochem Krebs said the NEPAD platform facilitates the speedy and proper utilization of development aid funds.
He observed it is not the availability of funds, but the environment and the utilization of the funds.
Speaking at the same occasion, U.S. Ambassador to Zambia David Dunn said the United States shares the fundamental goals of NEPAD of promoting economic growth and reducing poverty on the continent,adding that the creation of new partnerships is a step towards theattainment of the goals.
He said NEPAD's underlying principles are in line with the principles of the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) unveiled by President George W. Bush which represents a substantial increase in the U.S. core assistance to developing countries.
Dunn however stressed NEPAD's peer review mechanism will be essential in ensuring that good governance, market-led growth and the rule of law are upheld.
At the same occasion, British High Commissioner to Zambia JuliaPainting said the emergence of NEPAD opens up fresh opportunities.
She observed that through the continent strategy Africa is poised to achieve sustainable development through increased resource funds, improved trade access, debt relief and agricultural development.
Painting said that through NEPAD African leaders have shown a fresh determination to tackle conflicts, trade, education, health and debt.
Adding his voice, French Ambassador Dominique Homa stressed thevital necessity to translate the guidelines of NEPAD into nationaldevelopment strategies.
He said it is essential to put in place long-term national development strategies in which the civil society should play a major role, consistent with regional strategies.
Speaking earlier, Japanese Ambassador to Zambia Hiroshi Matsumoto said Japan is determined to cooperate fully with Africancountries through NEPAD which will be supported with the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) framework as the spirit and objectives of NEPAD are in line with those advocated by TICAD.
He said both are based on ownership and partnership sustained by good governance, adding that Japan has continued with firm determination to extend development assistance to Africa with the objective of promoting sustainable development aimed at empoweringAfrican countries to take full control of their destiny.
Matsumoto said his country considers Africa's development as animperative because there would be no stability and propriety in the 21st century unless Africa's problems are resolved.
Speaking at the same occasion, German High Commissioner to Zambia Lars Nieder said his country takes full recognizance that NEPAD has the potential to lay the foundation for a truly new partnership between Africa and the international community.
Russian Ambassador Vladimir Dorokhin said NEPAD is a welcome development, adding that Africans should move away from being beggars and emphasize the element of partnership in her development endeavors.
He however warned the continent should have no delusions about economic enhancement as the coming of NEPAD is only but a beginning to economic growth.
And Canadian High Commissioner to Zambia David Stockwell said NEPAD might be the panacea to Africa's developmental woes.
He said the wholesomeness of the developmental plan presented an opportunity to pull forward in solidarity.
The G-8 members are France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, Britain, the United States and Canada.
And NEPAD is a holistic, comprehensive integrated strategic framework for the socio-economic development of Africa that provides the vision for the continent's developmental program of actions.
(Xinhua News Agency June 12, 2002)
