Germany's Merkel calls for speedy delivery of aid to Egypt, Tunisia

May 27, 2011, 13:51 GMT

Deauville, France - German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Friday urged the Group of Eight (G8) to make sure Egypt and Tunisia receive financial aid as soon as possible.

'The main concern now is that the money arrive quickly to the people,' Merkel said after a G8 summit in the French seaside resort of Deauville.

The G8 vowed to make 20 billion dollars in financial assistance to Egypt, Tunisia and other Arab nations that embrace democratic reform.

Germany, for its part, is offering Egypt a debt-swap deal worth 300 million euros (426 million dollars).

Its offer of an 'Employment Pact' is designed to help train 5,000 workers and create 10,000 new jobs.

The German leader also urged the European Union to provide additional economic support by opening its markets to those countries' products.

She said the G8 has shown that it is taking responsibility for development in North Africa and throughout Africa.

Asked about the chances of French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde succeeding Dominique Strauss-Kahn at the helm of the International Monetary Fund, Merkel said the G8 was not the appropriate forum to discuss such an issue.

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