- News>
- World
G8 pledges decisive action for world`s poor
Group of Eight leaders, shaken by the ferocity of anti-capitalist violence at their annual summit, pledged on Sunday to draw poor nations into the world economy and make globalization work.
Group of Eight leaders, shaken by the ferocity of anti-capitalist violence at their annual summit, pledged on Sunday to draw poor nations into the world economy and make globalization work.
After three days of vicious street clashes between demonstrators and police in which one activist was shot dead, the G8 promised "free and open debate" with their citizens and decisive action to combat poverty, especially in Africa. Drawing the poorest countries into the global economy is the surest way to address their fundamental aspirations," the leaders of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and the United States said.
While agreeing that the world economy looked well placed to recover from a sharp slowdown, they failed to secure an accord over one key issue -- the environment -- that could have helped to secure a landmark international deal on global warming.
Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien said he did not expect a deal to emerge from separate marathon negotiations in Bonn, Germany, where more than 180 countries were haggling over ways to implement the 1997 Kyoto pact on curbing greenhouse gases.
The three-day summit left the ancient port of Genoa littered with burned-out cars, smashed windows and vandalized property.
Meeting in a Renaissance palace, the leaders were sealed off from the activists in a top-security "Red Zone," protected by 20-foot barricades and defended by 20,000 riot police and troops.
At least 300 people were injured and more than 100 arrested in the violence, condemned by Pope John Paul as the wrong path to justice. Clearly reacting to the mayhem, Canada said it would hold a much smaller summit next year at a remote mountain site.
In their communique, the G8 leaders thanked the citizens of Genoa but said they deplored "the violence, loss of life and mindless vandalism that they had to endure."
Last groups of protesters piled on to trains and buses to leave the Mediterranean port on Sunday afternoon as Genoese families began venturing out to survey the damage to the city.
In some streets just outside the Red Zone, nearly every window was smashed and every wall covered in graffiti inciting the end of the G8 and the destruction of the state.
Bureau Report
After three days of vicious street clashes between demonstrators and police in which one activist was shot dead, the G8 promised "free and open debate" with their citizens and decisive action to combat poverty, especially in Africa. Drawing the poorest countries into the global economy is the surest way to address their fundamental aspirations," the leaders of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and the United States said.
While agreeing that the world economy looked well placed to recover from a sharp slowdown, they failed to secure an accord over one key issue -- the environment -- that could have helped to secure a landmark international deal on global warming.
Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien said he did not expect a deal to emerge from separate marathon negotiations in Bonn, Germany, where more than 180 countries were haggling over ways to implement the 1997 Kyoto pact on curbing greenhouse gases.
The three-day summit left the ancient port of Genoa littered with burned-out cars, smashed windows and vandalized property.
Meeting in a Renaissance palace, the leaders were sealed off from the activists in a top-security "Red Zone," protected by 20-foot barricades and defended by 20,000 riot police and troops.
At least 300 people were injured and more than 100 arrested in the violence, condemned by Pope John Paul as the wrong path to justice. Clearly reacting to the mayhem, Canada said it would hold a much smaller summit next year at a remote mountain site.
In their communique, the G8 leaders thanked the citizens of Genoa but said they deplored "the violence, loss of life and mindless vandalism that they had to endure."
Last groups of protesters piled on to trains and buses to leave the Mediterranean port on Sunday afternoon as Genoese families began venturing out to survey the damage to the city.
In some streets just outside the Red Zone, nearly every window was smashed and every wall covered in graffiti inciting the end of the G8 and the destruction of the state.
Bureau Report