Former presidents Bush and Clinton speak at tsunami fundraiser
(13 May 2005) SHOTLIST 1. Medium shot of event 2. Wide shot of event 3. SOUNDBITE: (English) George H.W. Bush, Former US President: "Given the profound scope of the affected areas and the human suffering that still exists, some are frustrated by the pace of the progress to date. Let me assure those who are concerned that resources have been and will continue to be moving through the pipe line in the region. In fact I am told that some 80 to 90 percent of the private funds that were pledged have already been committed to designated NGO's, and to be sure much work remains to be done to refine the process by which public and private resources are directed into the region. The region needs to get the money that has already been pledged and committed by the American people. We are all anxious to see the rebuilding build a greater sense of momentum." 4. Wide shot of event 5. SOUNDBITE: (English) Bill Clinton, Former US President: "We're going to get this done, but I can tell you again that between now and the first of next year is by far the hardest period, practically and emotionally. It is going to take time to get the governments to appropriate this money and then time to get this money out and the affected countries will be far better if they can use the government appropriations coming from the US and the EU, Japan and others I believe, on long term reconstruction efforts, except for what the aid agencies, our country and others are already going to do on the specific problems. Therefore now is time when we need help from the private sector and we need this NGO money released and I understand why no one wants to release it until they are confident that it can be effectively spent." 6. Mediums hot of Former President Bush leaving event 7. Wide shot of Former President Clinton on stage STORYLINE Former United States Presidents Bill Clinton and George H.W. Bush, who are leading the U.S. effort to help tsunami victims in Southeast Asia, challenged aid organisations on Thursday to pick up the pace of their relief work. Clinton urged the groups to spend the money collected as soon as possible, saying victims are frustrated by delays in recovery projects. "We need to move this thing as quick as we can," Clinton told business leaders, foreign dignitaries and others at a meeting on the relief campaign. "Now is the time we need help from the private sector and we need this ... money released, I understand why nobody wants this money released until they're confident it can be effectively spent," Clinton said. Bush agreed: "We're all anxious to see the rebuilding get a greater sense of momentum." The December 26 tsunami, brought on by the region's strongest earthquake in four decades, claimed more than 180,000 lives across the Indian Ocean basin and left more than 1 million people homeless. Bush and Clinton visited the region in February. Clinton, who is also U.N. envoy for tsunami recovery, said the next six months are crucial and "by far the hardest period, practically and emotionally." Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: / ap_archive Facebook: / aparchives Instagram: / apnews You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...
