Thursday October 25 7:23 PM ET

Clinton: Boost Aid to Poor Nations

By CIARAN GILES, Associated Press Writer

MADRID, Spain (AP) - Former President Clinton (news - web sites) said Thursday that the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks highlighted the need for the developed world to ``spread the benefits and shrink the burdens'' of poor and underdeveloped countries.

``The poor can not be led by people like Mr. (Osama) bin Laden, who believe they can find their redemption in our destruction,'' Clinton said ahead of a two-day conference on democracy.

``But the prosperous cannot be led by those who play to our shortsighted selfishness and continue to pretend that we can go on denying to others what we claim for ourselves,'' he said in Madrid.

Clinton said the United States and other wealthy nations must invest in the education and health of the poor, seek ways of eradicating the world's climate problems and strive harder to advance democracy worldwide.

``If we are actually convinced of our common humanity, those of us that live in prosperous countries must assume the responsibilities which flow from it,'' Clinton told the current and past world leaders. ``We must spread the benefits and shrink the burdens of the 21st century world.''

Earlier, former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev said he believed the deaths in New York and Washington would not be in vain if the international anti-terrorism coalition assembled in the attacks' aftermath brings about a new and better world order.

``I believe if we remain united in this coalition of nations and states, we will not only prevent a new Cold War or clash of civilizations, but we will move toward a new world order,'' he said.

``Sept. 11 played a part in this. There will not be a death in vain if the world wakes up and begins to reflect upon itself,'' Gorbachev said.

He said the world failed to make the most of opportunities for international cooperation that came with the end of the Cold War a decade ago.

``Why were we talking about missiles and weapons? Why did we focus on these things and not notice the rise of international terrorism?''

Like Clinton, Gorbachev criticized unchecked globalization, under which ``only the strong win and the weak lose.''

He expressed support for the U.S. military action but warned that the operation should keep within the U.N. Security Council mandate. ``It must not degenerate into a war against any state'' and should not be used by any country for geopolitical gains, he said.

Joining them at the Conference on Democratic Consolidation and Transition are the prime ministers or presidents of Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Brazil, the Central African Republic, Croatia, the Czech Republic, the Dominican Republic, Slovakia and Slovenia.

Leaders from Spain, Ghana, Haiti, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Mozambique, Poland and Ukraine and 21 former heads of state also are expected to participate.

-- Anonymous, October 25, 2001