L'AQUILA, July 10 (RIA Novosti) - Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said on Friday that participants at the Group of Eight summit had agreed to earmark $20 billion for a three-year program to fight hunger.
"As part of the L'Aquila food security initiative, a figure of $15 billion was reached in aid, but following the working session involving representatives from African states, we were able to go from $15 billion to $20 billion over three years," the Italian premier said.
The Group of Eight leaders pledged to work closer with African nations to ensure access to water supplies and sanitation in a joint declaration adopted on the final day of the summit in Italy.
U.S. President Barack Obama said after the summit closed in L'Aquila on Friday that the U.S. administration would contribute at least $3.5 billion to the program.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said on Friday that at current agriculture sector development rates, Russia would be able to export up to 50 million tons of grain annually within five or ten years.
