- Press releases -

Senegal elected to presidency of Leading Group

The election of Senegal to the presidency of the “Leading Group on Solidarity Levies to Fund Development”, yesterday, is an honour for Africa. After France, Brazil, Norway and South Korea, it is the turn of an African country, Senegal, to hold the presidency of the 52 Member State-strong Leading Group, from October 2007 to April 2008. It is hoped that a reference framework will be adopted at the next conference, in Doha, where the best methods for promoting innovative financing mechanisms for development are to be defined.

The State Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Cheikh Tidiane Gadio, representing Senegal at the Seoul Conference in South Korea, was anxious to express his country’s sincere thanks to Guinea. “By withdrawing its candidacy in favour of Senegal, Guinea has once again demonstrated its legendary graciousness and its solid friendship for our country”, underlined the Senegalese head of diplomacy.

He also hinted that, to ensure that the Leading Group on Solidarity Levies to Fund Development presents a convincing case at Doha, following in the steps of the Brazilian, Norwegian and South Korean presidencies and with the effective support of the French Permanent Secretariat, Senegal will organise the two meetings of experts and the plenary session provided for in the Group’s terms of reference.

To prove itself worthy of the confidence placed in it by the other countries, Senegal will give its full attention to tried and tested mechanisms adopted by either States (such as the levy on airline tickets) or local authorities (such as the digital solidarity contribution).

In its efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, our country will draw on the experience gained in the areas of AIDS prevention and control, and the reduction of maternal and infant mortality. “In a word, during its presidency, Senegal will endeavour to adopt the most comprehensive approach possible to achieve the objectives of the Leading Group, i.e. promoting innovative financing mechanisms for development”, explained Dr Gadio.

The day before the election of Senegal to the presidency of the Leading Group, the State Minister of Foreign Affairs explained that he was delighted that this conference would be held to “discuss an issue that is becoming more topical and timely with each passing day, given the numerous difficulties that developing countries face, especially in Africa, as a result of the lack of sources of funding for development”.

According to him, the reality is a clear reminder that the resources generated through official development assistance, debt cancellations and debt reductions have been insufficient to curb this problem, which has disastrous effects on human dignity, perpetuating the poverty suffered by millions of people in developing countries.