Bush Calls on G8 Countries To Deliver on Promise To Increase HIV/AIDS Funding at Ground Breaking of U.S. Institute of Peace
President Bush on Thursday called on the Group of Eight industrialized nations to deliver on pledges to increase funding for HIV/AIDS and other disease efforts in Africa during a ground breaking ceremony for the U.S. Institute of Peace in Washington, D.C., the Washington Post reports.
Bush said he plans to challenge G8 countries to follow through on their commitments to increase funding for efforts to fight HIV/AIDS and malaria in July at the G8 summit in Japan. Bush at the ceremony said the U.S. and other wealthy countries should "strengthen the institutions of freedom" by funding health efforts in developing countries, providing security and helping to end conflict (Abramowitz, Washington Post, 6/6).
According to AFP/Google.com, the G8 ended its June 2007 summit in Germany by pledging $60 billion to combat HIV, malaria and tuberculosis in Africa, $30 billion of which already had been pledged by the U.S. (AFP/Google.com, 6/5). The countries did not set a time line for disbursing the funds, which raised questions about the seriousness of the commitment, Reuters reports. According to a White House spokesperson, the U.S. is up-to-date on its share of the funding pledged at the 2007 summit.
"At the last G8 [summit], our partners stood up and made strong commitments to help Africa deal with malaria and HIV/AIDS. They have yet to make good on their commitments," Bush said. He added that it is "one thing to make a promise; it's another thing to write the check. The American government expects our partners to live up to their obligations" (Pelofsky, Reuters, 6/5).
