Briefing from the Prime Minister’s Official Spokesman on: PM’s Africa Visit, PM, Northern Ireland, Iraq and Olympics Reception.
PM’s Africa Visit
The Prime Minister’s Official Spokesman (PMOS) advised journalists that the Prime Minister was spending part of today preparing for his forthcoming visit to Africa this week. The key part of the trip would be the meeting of the Commission for Africa in Addis Ababa between 6 and 8 October. This was the second meeting of the Commission and marked the half way point of its exercise to refine its work schedule to look at how to take forward the publication of its report which was due next spring. The purpose of the Commission was to help Africa help itself by bringing together African people to examine their different experiences. This was being done as part of the UK’s combined Presidencies of the G8 and the EU next year. We hoped the issue would feed into and inform the G8 agenda which would look at the problems facing Africa - such as those relating to conflict, disease and, in some cases, weak governance. We wanted to examine how Africa could be helped through means such as debt relief, health programmes and also trade. That said, it was important for Africa to view the report as one that was being produced with it, rather than for it - hence the importance of the meeting in Addis Ababa this week. Asked to explain what was meant by ‘weak governance’, the PMOS said that he was referring to issues such as transparency, corruption and ensuring that financial transactions were above board. All affected the credibility of countries in terms of attracting inward investment. He pointed out that some countries had already made progress in tackling such issues.
Asked which other Cabinet Ministers would be accompanying the Prime Minister to Africa, the PMOS said that Hilary Benn would be going. He added that most members of the Commission, including Bob Geldof, would also be attending the meeting.
Asked the outcome the Prime Minister was expecting to see from his visit this week, the PMOS said that the Prime Minister wanted to see a Commission report which reflected the reality both in terms of what worked and what did not work in Africa and which focussed the minds of Africa and the rest of the world in terms of how to turn the continent around. The key point was that Africa should not feel that any solution was being imposed on it but should be leading the way, supported by the rest of the world, in helping to resolve its own problems. This week’s meeting would take the opportunity to go through the Commission’s agenda, refine the issues it was considering and see whether further work needed to be done before its final report was published.
Asked if the Prime Minister felt frustrated about the lack of progress regarding Africa so far, the PMOS said that no one should expect instant solutions to the deep and intractable problems facing African countries. Other continents had made progress in the last decade, but this had not been matched by Africa - which was why it was important to uncover the reasons and address them. It was worth taking the time and making the effort to ensure that the Africa Commission’s report reflected the whole picture rather than going for instant solutions. Once it was completed, it was important for people to recognise it as an authoritative analysis which had come up with real recommendations to enable the G8 and the rest of the world to respond accordingly. Put to him that issues in the past which had prevented Africa from helping itself had included trade, debt relief and aid - all of which were governed by the US, the UK and the EU for example, the PMOS pointed out that one of the key changes in our attitude towards aid programmes was the idea that we could impose aid on countries in Africa. In our view, it was far better to allow the countries themselves to decide what their priorities should be according to their needs. Similarly, it should be left up to them to decide how to tackle health problems in their own countries. Put to him that it was perfectly possible to ‘impose’ debt relief, the PMOS said that we wanted to work with countries to deal with this issue rather than impose solutions from the outside because ultimately what was important was whether they were ready to take advantage of the opportunities which debt relief gave them.
Asked if there was any link between ‘improving and stabilising Africa’ and tackling terrorism, the PMOS said that as Bono had indicated, the Commission for Africa had been set up partly in recognition of the fact that allowing problems to fester and instability to grow unhindered would mean that it would be hard to control the outcome of such a situation. While it was true that no one could say with any certainty what would happen in the future, equally it would be very difficult to guard against what could happen.
Asked if the Prime Minister had spoken to the Chancellor about financial matters relating to Africa, the PMOS said that some of the discussions in the run up to the report would obviously involve the Treasury. However, we would not be briefing on them in detail. Asked why the Chancellor was not accompanying the Prime Minister on his visit despite the fact that he was a member of the African Commission, the PMOS said that the Prime Minister would be representing the UK.
PM
Asked about the Prime Minister’s health today, the PMOS said that he was working in Downing Street and feeling fresh and alert. Questioned as to whether the Prime Minister had had a medical check-up since leaving hospital, the PMOS said that he had no intention of providing a running commentary on the Prime Minister’s medical appointments and care. Asked if it was a good idea for the Prime Minister to undertake a visit to Africa so soon after his hospital procedure, the PMOS said that the Prime Minister obviously acted on the advice provided by doctors who were clearly better placed than anyone else to judge such matters. Asked if a doctor would accompany the Prime Minister on the trip, the PMOS said not as far as he was aware.
Asked if the Prime Minister had been frustrated by the heightened speculation about his successor in response to his announcement last week that he would not stand for a fourth term, the PMOS said that the Prime Minister had obviously expected a degree of coverage as a result of his clarifying remarks which had been made because of existing speculation about his position regarding a third term in office. It had not resulted in a fresh bout. It had simply been a clarification exercise. Asked if he would agree that the exercise had failed, the PMOS said no. All the Prime Minister had done was tell the country what his position was. However, as he had underlined, in the end it was a matter for the electorate to decide whether to elect him for a third term or not. Asked if a third term meant a full third term, the PMOS said that as a Civil Servant he was unable to comment on political matters. That said, the Prime Minister had made it very clear last Thursday that a full term meant a full term. Asked if the Prime Minister had discussed the issue with the Queen in advance, the PMOS said that it wasn’t our practice to brief on conversations between the Queen and the Prime Minister.
Northern Ireland
Asked for an update on Northern Ireland following the talks at Leeds Castle, the PMOS said that we were continuing to move in the right direction. However, the Prime Minister remained of the view that we needed to make progress sooner rather than later, which was why the contacts between ourselves and the Irish Government, and between the two Governments and the parties were ongoing. There was no specific timeframe at this stage. However, as the Prime Minister had said at Leeds Castle, there was now a basis to resolve the issue and move on. That view had not changed.
Asked if Gen Sir Mike Jackson had ‘jumped the gun’ by stating that troops could be pulled out of Northern Ireland before Christmas, the PMOS said that our position on normalisation had been made clear in a joint declaration over a year ago - we wanted it to happen as quickly as possible. However, it had to be done against a backdrop of an overall reduction in the threat level, which in turn would depend on reaching agreement regarding a complete end to paramilitary activity.
Asked if the Prime Minister had any plans to meet with the leaders of the Northern Ireland parties on his return from Africa, the PMOS said that we remained in contact with the parties, as you would expect.
Iraq
Asked the Prime Minister’s view of recent US military activity in Iraq, the PMOS pointed out that it was being done with the agreement and assistance of the Iraqi interim government. The aim, with which we agreed, was clear - to do what was necessary to allow elections to take place in January in as peaceful an environment as possible.
Olympics Reception
The PMOS informed journalists that the Prime Minister would host a reception for British Olympians and Paralympians on 29 November 2004. Further details would be announced at a later stage.
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