AFRICA: Chirac sets up airline levy to fund anti-AIDS measures
JOHANNESBURG, 29 Aug 2005 (PLUSNEWS) - French President Jacques Chirac on Monday instructed his government to set up mechanisms for taxing airline tickets to raise money for African development.
Reuters quoted Chirac as saying, "I have asked [my] government to start the necessary procedures, so that such a levy is in place from next year."
The proceeds will initially be aimed at tackling HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, but could later be used to pay down debt.
France, along with its partners in the scheme, is to push for adoption of the levy by the UN next month, and an international summit on the issue will be held in February 2006.
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