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| Blair's 'moral duty' to intervene | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Tony Blair has used a keynote speech in South Africa to say there is a "moral obligation" to use political action "to make the world better". | Tony Blair has used a keynote speech in South Africa to say there is a "moral obligation" to use political action "to make the world better". |
| Mr Blair, who promised more training for African peacekeeping forces and continued aid to the region, defended his interventionist foreign policy. | Mr Blair, who promised more training for African peacekeeping forces and continued aid to the region, defended his interventionist foreign policy. |
| He said globalisation meant all nations had a stake in promoting "freedom, opportunity and justice for all". | He said globalisation meant all nations had a stake in promoting "freedom, opportunity and justice for all". |
| Mr Blair is on his last big trip before stepping down as prime minister. | |
| He has denied the week-long tour, which has also taken in Libya and Sierra Leone, is a "vanity tour" - dismissing his critics as "cynical". | |
| However ferocious the challenges are in this part of Africa it's better to intervene and try to make a difference than stay out and try to cope with the consequences at a later time Tony Blair African media verdict on Blair | However ferocious the challenges are in this part of Africa it's better to intervene and try to make a difference than stay out and try to cope with the consequences at a later time Tony Blair African media verdict on Blair |
| Mr Blair is meeting South African President Thabo Mbeki, where Zimbabwe's political crisis will be on the agenda. | Mr Blair is meeting South African President Thabo Mbeki, where Zimbabwe's political crisis will be on the agenda. |
| He will also hold talks with South Africa's former leader Nelson Mandela. | He will also hold talks with South Africa's former leader Nelson Mandela. |
| In his speech Mr Blair, who has sent UK troops into action in Kosovo, Sierra Leone, Afghanistan and Iraq while prime minister, said it was in countries' self interest to intervene in failing states. | In his speech Mr Blair, who has sent UK troops into action in Kosovo, Sierra Leone, Afghanistan and Iraq while prime minister, said it was in countries' self interest to intervene in failing states. |
| Consequences | Consequences |
| He said: "I believe in the power of political action to make the world better and the moral obligation to use it. | He said: "I believe in the power of political action to make the world better and the moral obligation to use it. |
| "I do not believe that in this time - the early 21st century - that international politics can be just about nations' interests, narrowly and traditionally defined. | "I do not believe that in this time - the early 21st century - that international politics can be just about nations' interests, narrowly and traditionally defined. |
| "I believe that now, today, our self interest is in substantial part defined by the well-being of others, that the consequence of globalisation is that our best chance of security and prosperity lies in advancing freedom, opportunity and justice for all." | "I believe that now, today, our self interest is in substantial part defined by the well-being of others, that the consequence of globalisation is that our best chance of security and prosperity lies in advancing freedom, opportunity and justice for all." |
| He called on the G8 group of industrialised nations, meeting in Germany from 6-8 June, to be "bolder on Africa". | |
| "I believe there is the possibility - which I hope next week's G8 will take forward - of a different, more strategic approach, based on partnership rather than aid alone of real transformational change in the years to come. | |
| Mr Blair was made an honorary paramount chief in Sierra Leone | |
| "My belief is that we have to stay with it for the long-haul, commit and re-commit. Never let it be said that we are not trying even if it cannot always be said that we are succeeding." | |
| He also said Africa should have a greater representation at international institutions, such as permanent representation on the UN Security Council, a stronger partnership between the European Union and the African Union, as well as a stronger Nepad (New Plan for Africa's Development). | |
| On Wednesday, the prime minister held talks with President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah of Sierra Leone and Liberia's President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. | On Wednesday, the prime minister held talks with President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah of Sierra Leone and Liberia's President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. |
| 'Paramount chief' | 'Paramount chief' |
| Afterwards he said: "However ferocious the challenges are in this part of Africa it's better to intervene and try to make a difference than stay out and try to cope with the consequences at a later time." | Afterwards he said: "However ferocious the challenges are in this part of Africa it's better to intervene and try to make a difference than stay out and try to cope with the consequences at a later time." |
| The UK sent peacekeeping troops during to Sierra Leone in 2000, helping to end the country's civil war. | The UK sent peacekeeping troops during to Sierra Leone in 2000, helping to end the country's civil war. |
| The move made Mr Blair a popular figure in the West African state and he was rewarded on Wednesday when he was made an honorary "paramount chief" - a mark of respect in the country. | The move made Mr Blair a popular figure in the West African state and he was rewarded on Wednesday when he was made an honorary "paramount chief" - a mark of respect in the country. |
| On Tuesday Mr Blair held talks with Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, saying relations between the UK and Libya had been "completely transformed" in recent years. | On Tuesday Mr Blair held talks with Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, saying relations between the UK and Libya had been "completely transformed" in recent years. |
| In Thursday's speech, the main one of his trip, Mr Blair said: "Africa is close to my heart... it has also been at the top of my foreign policy for the last 10 years. | In Thursday's speech, the main one of his trip, Mr Blair said: "Africa is close to my heart... it has also been at the top of my foreign policy for the last 10 years. |
| "From the very beginning however, I wanted to base that policy on a new partnership with African leaders and countries - not one based on rich and poor or donor and recipient, but based on common values of justice and democracy and human rights." | "From the very beginning however, I wanted to base that policy on a new partnership with African leaders and countries - not one based on rich and poor or donor and recipient, but based on common values of justice and democracy and human rights." |