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Summit leaders banter in idyllic setting for G-8 family photo
Evian, Jun 01: The setting was idyllic today for the traditional family photo of G-8 leaders and their guests from around the world including Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee - a green alpine meadow with snowcapped peaks in the backdrop.
Evian, Jun 01: The setting was idyllic today for the traditional family photo of G-8 leaders and their guests from around the world including Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee - a green alpine meadow with snowcapped peaks in the backdrop.
The leaders themselves put on a show of good humour despite lingering differences over Iraq.
US President George W Bush laughed with Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, and after the photographers snapped the picture he patted the back of President Jacques Chirac, this year's G-8 host and Bush's most ardent anti-war foe.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, who arrived in Evian after successfully hosting G-8, European and other world leaders for the 300th anniversary of the founding of St Petersburg, just beamed - and beamed - before being buttonholed by Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika.
Chirac has gone way beyond any other G-8 host in broadening the agenda and the guest list beyond the traditionally dark-suited participants of the world's most industrialised nations.
Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo tugged at his long copper-coloured robe before the shutter clicked and crown prince Abdullah of Saudi Arabia adjusted the "ugal," the black rope used to hold on his "ghutra," the traditional white Arab headcover. Vajpayee also wore traditional Indian attire.
New Chinese leader Hu Jintao hasn't been on the international scene long enough to engage in summit banter and stood quietly by himself.
The only major summit leader absent was German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, who was due in Evian today evening.
Bureau Report
US President George W Bush laughed with Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, and after the photographers snapped the picture he patted the back of President Jacques Chirac, this year's G-8 host and Bush's most ardent anti-war foe.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, who arrived in Evian after successfully hosting G-8, European and other world leaders for the 300th anniversary of the founding of St Petersburg, just beamed - and beamed - before being buttonholed by Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika.
Chirac has gone way beyond any other G-8 host in broadening the agenda and the guest list beyond the traditionally dark-suited participants of the world's most industrialised nations.
Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo tugged at his long copper-coloured robe before the shutter clicked and crown prince Abdullah of Saudi Arabia adjusted the "ugal," the black rope used to hold on his "ghutra," the traditional white Arab headcover. Vajpayee also wore traditional Indian attire.
New Chinese leader Hu Jintao hasn't been on the international scene long enough to engage in summit banter and stood quietly by himself.
The only major summit leader absent was German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, who was due in Evian today evening.
Bureau Report