Bono at the Leadership Convention

Bono says he'll be a 'pain' about Africa

Funny, articulate rock star praises Canada's international presence

By JANE TABER
Saturday, November 15, 2003 - Page A7

TORONTO -- An unconventional Irish rock star in blue sunglasses hit the Liberal convention last night to beg for relief for Africa, and told Paul Martin that he is going to be the "biggest pain in his ass."

He was funny, articulate, self-deprecating and he's a rock star, as he reminded Liberals often during his 20-minute speech.

U2 lead singer Bono spoke from the heart about Canada's role in helping Africa, a continent he says is "in flames."

To cheers and standing ovations from the 8,000 Liberals gathered at the Air Canada Centre to celebrate Mr. Martin's ascent to the leadership, Bono delivered a history lesson, talking of the international presence of Lester Pearson, invoking Pierre Trudeau's name and arguing that the "world needs more Canada."

Prime Minister Jean Chrétien and Mr. Martin were on their feet several times clapping and cheering for Bono.

The Martin camp invited Bono, who has met with Mr. Martin before on development issues, to the convention.

He was not paid for his appearance. He flew in from his home in Dublin, where he is working on a new album.

Bono arrived in Toronto midafternoon, quickly opened his laptop and went to work on his speech. Mr. Martin's aides, hearing that he liked to drink Moosehead beer, had stocked his suite with the Maritime brew. Bono, however, ordered tea.

He also met with several Canadian non-governmental organizations to discuss Third World relief issues. Later, he and record-producer, singer-songwriter Daniel Lanois met with Mr. Martin in his hotel suite.

Bono did not sing. He used his time to speak to Liberals about his passion to help Africa.

He said he was not a member of the Liberal Party or of any party. He said he was rather surprised to find himself at a political convention.

"So here I am an unidentified foreign object . . ."

Initially, Bono was to speak with a Paul Martin logo as a backdrop but the new leader's organizers realized it was too partisan for the rock star. Instead, he spoke with some pictures of himself and Mr. Martin behind him.

"I like parties, though," Bono said. "I'm not here to run for anything. I'm not here to run away from anything.

"I'm here because, in truth, he [Mr. Martin] and Prime Minister Jean Chrétien have been very kind to me."

Obviously well briefed on the political situation in the country, Bono joked that he might be the only thing on which Mr. Martin and Mr. Chrétien agree.

He talked about the number of Africans who are dying of HIV/AIDS and about the need for cheap generic drugs for people with AIDS.

Bono came to the convention in part because of the Chrétien legislation, recently tabled, to change patent laws to make cheaper generic AIDS drugs available for Africa.

"This is not just a rock star's pet cause," he said. "This is an emergency. That's why I'm here. Africa is a continent in flames, in flames."

He said he hoped that Mr. Martin would "tackle AIDS" with the same vigour that his father, Paul Martin Sr., "fought against polio."

The rock star also told Canadians that he was a fan of the country, saying at one point that he believes "the world needs more Canada."

"The Canadian voice is hard wired in my heart. I'm a fan because a certain kind of idealism still seems to be alive in this country. You're not an insular place, you've always looked outside yourself, beyond the line of the horizon," Bono said.

Ottawa and the rock star

Bono praised both Chretien and Martin for the times they listened to him on a range of international issues as an audience of 10,000 sat spellbound.

"Paul Martin took my phone calls, he promised to help and he kept that promise," Bono said. "Jean Chretien did the same, it's not just about keeping a promise to me, it's about keeping a promise to the most vulnerable people on earth and I am grateful for that."

In the past, Chretien and Bono have worked together on the issue of debt relief for developing countries. The social activist lavished praise on Canada in a letter to Chretien after he promised low-cost drugs to African nations.

Still, he said there were many obstacles to overcome before African nations begin receiving the drugs they need to combat HIV and AIDS.

"So how I am going to return Paul Martin's favour? I'm going to become the biggest pain of his life! Paul Martin thinks he likes me. He doesn't know what he signed on for -- more lobbying about debt, begging for letters, petitions for unfair trade, phone calls about money for the global health fund," Bono said.

Low-cost drugs for poor countries remains one of Chretien's top priorities and he will be pressing the issue when he attends a Commonwealth conference in Nigeria next month.

Canada's legislation will be based on a World Trade Organization initiative designed to help poor countries deal with public health crises. The bill means Canada may become the first member of the world trade body to take action on the deal.

"Paul Martin asked me to come and offered me 15 minutes of the national airwaves to talk about what is on my mind," Bono told CFTO News ahead of his appearance.

"Canada has made some real progress recently with Chretien and Paul Martin. On the debt stuff, Paul Martin was there for me ... he always talked to me, he was very encouraging and very helpful," Bono said.

"Prime Minister Chretien was very good on trade. Now, recently they have been working on a way to get cheaper drugs to people in Africa," Bono said. "I want to applaud that, I want to have a good time, have a drink, take a walk."

Bono made it clear that he expected Martin to build on the legacy of his predecessors in the fight for equality.

"If (Martin) carries the mantle of Pearson, Trudeau and Chretien, if he joins with the groups leading this fight . . . then Canada - O Canada! - will show the world the way forward."

He was not paid for his appearance. He flew in from his home in Dublin, where he is working on a new album.

Bono arrived in Toronto midafternoon, quickly opened his laptop and went to work on his speech. Mr. Martin's aides, hearing that he liked to drink Moosehead beer, had stocked his suite with the Maritime brew. Bono, however, ordered tea.

Annan to address Canadian Parliament

DAVOS, Switzerland (CP) - United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan has accepted an invitation to address the Canadian Parliament sometime in the first two weeks of March, Prime Minister Paul Martin announced Friday.

Martin, who met Annan privately at the World Economic Forum in this Swiss Alps resort on Friday, said the invitation to Annan was the first he has made to a world leader because he wanted to underline the importance of the United Nations at a crossroads in its history.

"If the United Nations doesn't work, we are severely hobbled," he told a news conference.

Martin said in a world where superpowers like China and India are emerging to rival the economic might of the United States, the United Nations will be critical over the next decade in trying to determine how the world is governed.

Annan will be the first UN secretary general to address Parliament in the more than 50-year history of the organization.

By inviting Annan to speak to MPs and senators, Martin wants to express the role that Canada can play in achieving change at the United Nations.

"Canada has a very important role to play in the world, it is a proactive role and it is a role that carries a wide number of areas," he said, citing the AIDS crisis in Africa and establishing the rule of law in failed states as examples of areas where Canada has made a difference.

But Canada must also be involved in the way the United Nations evolves to deal with new global challenges, the prime minister said.

"No country has as great an opportunity and as great a responsibility to make this happen as does Canada," he said.

OTTAWA (Reuters) - Just when beleaguered Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin thought life couldn't get any worse, he now has another headache -- rock star Bono is attacking him for not spending enough to help the world's poor.

Bono said he was disappointed Martin had not kept an earlier promise to boost Canada's foreign aid to a level equivalent to 0.7 percent of gross domestic product.

"I'm bewildered really. I'm disappointed. I've not given up hope. I really can't believe that Paul Martin would want to hold up history, or indeed would hold up history," Bono told CBC radio in an interview broadcast on Saturday.

Bono, a tireless campaigner to improve living conditions in Africa, also read out the number of Martin's office and urged Canadians to call him.

"We were looking for Canada to lead rather than be a laggard ... what's upsetting about this is it feels like business as usual," added the star.

Bono's annoyance contrasts sharply with his November 2003 address to a conference of the ruling Liberal Party which elected Martin as leader.

On that occasion Bono lauded Martin's promise to sharply increase foreign aid but said he would be keeping a sharp eye on the politician, warning prophetically: "I'm going to be the biggest pain in his ass."

Martin is currently scrambling to keep his minority government alive amid growing anger over a Liberal Party cash-for-favors scandal.

"This is no time to just turn inward. I know there are problems here at home. But don't lose your focus, Prime Minister, on how history will remember this moment," said Bono.