Speeches & Statements

It might surprise many who know of my life in politics and international affairs but, in my heart, I consider myself a farmer.... Few achievements give me greater pride and satisfaction than the livestock, crop and vegetable farm I started back in 1979 and where I now spend much of my time.

Kofi Annan says "We all have a part to play, as well, in ensuring our leaders do not shy away from the hard decisions necessary to ensure that the world we pass on to future generations is a stable, secure and healthy one."

(Version française ci-dessous) Global affairs can no longer be managed with the traditional business-as-usual approach. The economic turmoil -in particular around the Eurozone- the growing scrutiny of global financial mechanisms, and an increasing interdependence between countries -both within and beyond the G20- are only some of the major game-changing developments on the global agenda.

Olusegun Obasanjo was the keynote speaker at the Africa Investor CEO Institutional Investment Summit, attended by African leaders, senior United Nations officials and leaders in the private sector. He told the Summit that Africa could not make collective progress unless "we have collective and central means of addressing most of the issues that affect us as Africans''.

The APP Secretariat has issued the following statement in response to the G8 Summit held in Deauville, France.

Op-Ed by Toni Blair on G20 and African Leadership

Robert Rubin's Op-Ed in the Korea Times

Bob Geldof's Op-Ed in Libération following the APP's meeting with President Sarkozy

Last week the Africa Progress Panel met French President Nicolas Sarkozy to discuss the importance of the development agenda for his G20 presidency. France must show leadership in this and ensure, in particular, that the group meets the promises on macroeconomics and global trade it made at last year’s Seoul summit.

President Obasanjo's Op-Ed in the Hindu

 Opinion Piece by Kofi Annan published in Le Figaro, 15 February 2011

Peter Eigen's Op-Ed on Good Governance and development in Africa

Tidjane Thiam's Op-Ed on the Guardian's development blog

Kofi Annan calls on G20 countries to the concepts of fairness, balance and the common good in mind.  He says G20 countries have the “capacity, resources, influence and, thus, the moral obligation and responsibility to help those less fortunate”.