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French Group upset by language
discrimination at aids effectiveness talks
Accra, Aug. 31, Ghanadot/GNA- A group of more than 40
persons, from French speaking countries across the world,
meeting in Accra, have called for a bridge of the language
barrier that, they say has characterized discussions on aid
effectiveness since the Paris Declaration.
Ahead of the third High Level Forum on aid effectiveness,
scheduled for Accra for September 2 to September 4, 2008,
the Group complained that the use of English language as the
main medium of expression at the previous forums had not
helped in the effective participation of affected non
English speaking countries.
Mr. Kouassi Sebastien Programme Assistant in-Charge of
Communication at the Benin based Groupe de la Recherche et
d'Action Pour l'Agriculture and Developpement (GRAPAT)
acting as spokesman, told newsmen in a debriefing that, the
meeting was to brief delegates on the whole process of
efforts, challenges and future plans to have discussions on
aid effectiveness in other languages than English.
It was also to discuss future plans for the talks.
Mr. Sebastien said the group was very clear on the need for
the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
(OECD) and all involved in making aid effective that
language discrimination was not for what he called
"conclusion delivery."
He maintained that, all concerned with aid and its
effectiveness should have equal access to information.
Mr. Sebastien observed that making the information on
discussions in French and other international languages
apart from English would not be an easy task, but however
stressed the OECD could do it with more efforts.
He announced that the group would present a francophone
position paper in the French language only at the end of the
Accra talks.
GNA
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