In this issue:

Russia, Libya Discuss Nuclear Power, Other Projects

High Oil Prices Contribute to Genocide in Africa

From Volume 7, Issue 1 of EIR Online, Published Jan. 1, 2008
Africa News Digest

Russia, Libya Discuss Nuclear Power, Other Projects

Dec. 24 (EIRNS)—Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov visited Libya for two days of talks, announcing that the two countries have planned a number of large-scale economic projects, mostly in power production, including nuclear, transport, housing, and industrial construction. Yesterday, Lavrov had talks with the Secretary of the Supreme People's Committee Baghdadi Ali al-Mahmoudi and Secretary of the Main People's Committee for Foreign Ties and International Cooperation, Abdel Rahman Shalkam. The agenda focussed on political and strategic issues such as the post-Annapolis Conference situation, but economic cooperation was central to Lavrov's meetings.

In a preview to Lavrov's trip, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Mikhail Kamynin pointed to economic projects, in an interview with the RIA Novosti agency, Dec. 19. He said: "It is important to concentrate on tapping the impressive potential for interaction in the oil and gas sphere. As is known, Gazprom and Tatneft companies have already begun field development in Libya. These areas are of interest to us from, among other things, considerations of ensuring global energy security. Projects involving us are being elaborated in the fields of electric power development, pipe transport, housing construction, railway infrastructure. We are ready to assist Libya with the realization of its inalienable right to enjoy the benefits of the peaceful atom."

High Oil Prices Contribute to Genocide in Africa

Dec. 29 (EIRNS)—The International Energy Agency (IEA) reported that the high price of oil has wiped out any benefits from aid and debt relief received by Africa's non-oil-producing nations. The report surveyed 13 countries, with a total population of 270 million people, including South Africa, Ghana, Tanzania, Ethiopia, and Senegal. The increase in the cost of oil since 2004 was equivalent to 3% of their combined GDP, or $10.6 billion, which is more than the combined aid and debt relief over the last three years.

Senegal President Abdoulaye Wade told the Financial Times that the "crippling" oil prices threaten to provoke "unrest and violence" in Africa. Wade has proposed that 15 non-oil-producing African countries create a multinational energy corporation to compete for oil concessions on the continent. "There is a growing understanding that the most urgent need in Africa today is the challenge of providing affordable energy," said Wade.

However, the oil price spike is simply one aspect of the hyperinflationary insanity governing the Western financial institutions today, as the entire system collapses in insolvency. As the IEA report demonstrates, Africa is being left to die in this process. Lyndon LaRouche emphasized, "There is no remedy for any significant part of the crises of Africa within the geographical-cultural parameters of any part of, or all of Africa. There are only global remedies, or virtually none at all."

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