Dear G-L Members,
The following is a despatch from the AFP reporter in Libreville:

  Cambessus urges developed nations to cut arms sales to Africa

LIBREVILLE, Jan. 17 (AFP)- IMF Director General Michel Camdessus on Monday
urged developed nations to slash their arms exports to Africa, saying "the
other name for development is peace."

Speaking ahead of a two-day summit on poverty reduction in Africa,
Camdessus said: "A third of African countries are at war and 90 percent of
the weapons are sold by G-8 nations," referring to the group of eight most
industrialised countries.

Camdessus told a press conference ahead of the summit, to be held Tuesday
and Wednesday under the aegis of the International Monetary Fund, that the
IMF was pressing African regimes to
cut back their military spending.

"The other name for development is peace," he said, calling on rich
countries to cut exports "not only of heavy weaponry but also of the light
arms which are carried by children in the front line of the conflicts."

"When a country we support goes to war, we go into discussions with it: Do
you want war or development? It's a pretty tough dialogue," he said.

Some 20 African heads of state and government are expected to attend the
gathering along with top staff of the IMF, World Bank and the African
Development Bank.

A preliminary ministerial meeting was being held Monday.  Ministers and
experts from across the continent have already prepared a document
containing proposals for alleviating poverty.

Camdessus estimated that Africa should be able to reach sustained annual
annual growth rates of six to seven percent, rather than the current four

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