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Morning News

U2 Lead Singer Bono Pushes Third World Debt Cancellation at U.N. Millennium Summit

Aired September 7, 2000 - 11:34 a.m. ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: At this week's U.N. Millennium Summit in New York City, one of the key issues before world leaders is debt relief for third world countries.

One of those leading the charge comes from Dublin, Ireland. Lead singer of the rock band U2, we welcome Bono this morning, live from U.N. headquarters in New York city.

Morning to you, it's a pleasure.

BONO, MUSICIAN, U2: How are you doing, Bill? It's a pleasure to be here.

HEMMER: Thank you. Are you doing all right?

BONO: Yeah, it's hot and sunny and it's a picnic outside, but it's not going to be a picnic inside.

HEMMER: Got you. We won't keep you long.

Listen, you have been working on this issue about debt relief to the third world countries for about a year-and-a-half right now. Why do you consider it so important?

BONO: Well, you know, there is a billion people living on less than $1 a day, and we've got an idea that might a make a big difference to them, and it's not really being taken seriously, here in the U.S., I don't think.

I don't think Americans know that, for every dollar they give in aid to Africa, say, that Africa owes America $8. And I think, if Americans find out about this, they're going to get very cross. And, I don't think it's very American.

And, in the millennium year, all the religious leaders and even your humble pop stars are saying let's just -- let's give this billion people a fresh start. Let's cancel their old debts usually taken out by dodgy dictators and, you know, regimes of the past.

These -- if these people make the steps, get rid of corruption, and end conflicts, they should be rewarded by debt cancellation -- sorry Bill. HEMMER: You mentioned dictators. Let's talk a little more about that. Because you know the allegations, critics say that the money that goes to these countries never gets down or trickles down to the people who need it the most.

How do you respond to that? And how, indeed, would the countries be helped if you went ahead and wiped the slate it clean?

BONO: I just say that's is rubbish, Bill. And, it's really annoying for me to hear these arguments over and over again. They are kind of a smokescreen that the bureaucrats use to stop actually just going to the reserves in the banks and actually, you know, giving us what we want.

There is plenty of conditions in place. The U.N. has a role here and no one is going to get the breaks unless they can prove, and the onus is on that -- these countries to prove where the money is going. That's why it works as a reward, as a carrot and a stick to these countries. It's actually good sense and this argument does not add up.

HEMMER: All right, you are traveling right now, making your sales pitch as a pop star. You're travelling with two bishops, kind of an interesting image there. But, you have gone ahead and collected more than 21 million signatures from 155 different nations. You are going to present this petition, right after this interview, with Kofi Annan.

What is your best sales pitch to him on this project?

BONO: You know, I don't have to sell it to Kofi Annan. He is a great and dignified man and he knows we're talking sense.

The argument is won here. But, what I am asking him to do is to, you know, to take out his scissors and cut through the red tape that's stopping getting the money that we have already got from the politicians, which is $100 billion we've already got agreed. But, to try and get that money out from the bureaucracies and into the mouths of the starving children who need it. We need somebody like Kofi Annan.

President Obasanjo of Nigeria is a classic case. His country is not availing of any debt cancellation, even though he has brought in all the reforms we in the West have asked of him. He is a dignified man, again a prisoner of conscience in the past, and is bringing to that -- his troubled country a sort of calm and -- and a good governance. And he's saying: Why are we not being given a break here? We are doing all you say.

So, for he and I to present this petition to Kofi Annan, I think it makes an overall point. Why they need the pop star, why they need the rock-n-roll star, is a good question. I think it's not a sexy subject, and I guess they think I am sexy.

HEMMER: That's kind of why we got you here today. Quickly, in the 30 seconds we have left, let's talk a little bit about music. You have got an album forthcoming, I believe in the fall. It's called "All that You Can't Leave Behind." Is this album thematic in any sense? that goes to your causes et cetera?

BONO: Bill, to be honest with you, I don't want to talk about music here. I don't want to get it confused. I sort of look like I am selling my wares. But I tell you what, I will be back, and I'll sell my wares to you.

HEMMER: Hey, do that. I would really like that. I'd love to see you on tour some time soon as well. And, thanks for taking time with us.

BONO: Thanks, Bill, God bless you, bye.

HEMMER: Thank you, Bono, live in New York.

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