Canadian Prime Minister gives news conference after G8 summit
01.01.70
July 17
The G8 summit in St. Petersburg provided an opportunity to focus on the vital problems of peace, development and education, said Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper on the last day of the summit. Given Canada's experience as an energy exporter, as well as its experience in responding to education and healthcare challenges both domestically and internationally, the country will honor its commitments within the G8, he said.
Canada will provide an additional $150 million under the Global Partnership Program to finance efforts to eliminate weapons of mass destruction, Harper's administration reported.
In 2006-2016, Canada will appropriate $450 million to support healthcare systems in African countries. This year, it will allocate $250 million to the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. The country is willing to provide $100 million to support a pilot vaccine development project. It will also allocate $57 million to support international efforts against avian influenza and to work out measures to be taken in the event of future epidemics. Canada will contribute $45 million to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative this year.
At the final news conference, Harper touched upon the Middle East developments, saying that the G8's joint statement was an appropriate response to them. The club urged Israel to minimize damage to the civilian population, he said.