The Arab World and IMF took the centre stage in G-8 summit

অনলাইন ডেস্ক পঠিত: 25 বার

প্রকাশিত: May 29, 2011 | 11:21 AM

Masum Billah: The member countries of the G8 group The United States, Canada, Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and Russia hold a summit once a year to discuss economic, trade and political issues . Each year it is held in a different member country. The group does not have permanent headquarters or staff. It does not even have its own budget. The country which accommodates meeting remains responsible for all the arrangements. This year these arrangements were shouldered by France and the summit lasted for two days on May 26 and 27 at Deauville resort. Two significant events of the present world namely the restless Arab World and the nomination of IMF chief took the center stage of the summit. The New York Times says about the summit, “The group of G-8 brings together the leaders of some of the world’s biggest economies on purely economic matters, it has started to be overshadowed by the group of G20, a less Eurocentric body that gained importance after the 2008 global matters. But the groups of G8 still count and offer a forum where important nations can discuss or coordinate strategy on issues from climate change to the turmoil in the Arab World. Democracy, the leaders said could be rooted only in economic reforms that create open markets, equal opportunities and jobs to lower staggeringly high unemployment rates especially among restless youths. Leaders were just concerned about the state of the global economy where growth remains sluggish and unemployment is high.”

On the first day the leaders sought to thrash out a common position on how to support Arab democratic revolts, brandishing a threat of action against Syria and demanding Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi leave the power. The strongest language was reserved for Gaddafi with even Russia apparently backing a demand for the strongman to quit, even though Moscow claimed it had been asked to promote a negotiated settlement to the Libya conflict. The groups warned thus “We demand the immediate cessation of the use of force against civilians by the Libyan regime forces as well as the cessation of all incitement to hostility and violence against the civilian population. Gaddafi and the Libyan government have failed to fulfill their responsibility to ported the Libyan population and have lost all legitimacy . He has not future in a free, democratic Libya. “US president Barack Obama said after talks with French G-8 host president Nicolas Sarkozy that “ we have made progress on our Libya campaign. “ the United States provided the bulk of the firepower blitz which launched the Nato campaign in Libya , but has since taken on a support role with European nations, especially France and Britain to the fore.”

An earlier draft that threatened Syria with United nations Security Council sanctions if Damascus continues its bloody oppression of protests was softened under pressure from ally Russia to warn simply of ‘ further measure.’ They called on the Syrian leadership to immediately stop using force and intimidation against the Syrian people and to respond to their legitimate demands for freedom of expression and universal rights and aspirations. The group said about Yemen “ we condemn the use of violence in response to the peaceful protest throughout Yemen . The leaders aid in a communiqué to be released after two day summit in France. “We urge president Saleh to immediately follow through on his commitments and sure that the legitimate aspirations of the Yemeni people are addressed. “

The leaders of G-8 countries talked about the Israel-Palestine peace process as well. They urged the two sides to return to substantive task with a view to concluding a framework agreement on all final status issues. To that effect they expressed their strong support for the vision of Israeli – Palestine peace outlined by president Obama on May 19, 2011. The group said referring to Obama’s call for the 1967 lines to be the basis for peace talks. The time to resume the peace process is now. The draft statement said calling also for an easing for the situation in the Gaza Strip.

The group showed serious concern about the democratic transition of power of Tunisia and Egypt.Both Tunisian and Egyptian economies were hit hard by the tumultuous events of January and February and Egypt wants between 10 and 12 billion dollars in aid y the middle of next year. Tunisia demanded 25billion dollars over the next five years. Tunisian prime minster Beji Caid Esebsi and his Egyptian counterpart Essam Sharaf were in Deuaville for an enlarged G-8 session along with European , the Arab League and the IMF. British Prime Minister David Cameron on Thursday pledged $175 million to foster democracy in the region and Sarkoy is expected to push his partners for more. Africa is also in the G-8 spotlight with leaders hosting the newly elected presidents of the Ivory Coast, Niger and Guinea for a session to encourage democracy. “We share a compelling interest in seeing the transitions in Egypt and Tunisia succeed and become models for the rion. U.S Secretary ofState Hillary Clinton and Treasurey Secretary Timothy Geithner wrote in a letter to the G-8 leaders. “ Otherwise we risk losing this moment of opportunity.”

G8 leaders faced challenges to Western Europe’s grip on the post of Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, the global lender. The position was left vacant by the dramatic departure of Dmonique Stauss-Kahn, a Frenchman who is charged with an attempted rape of New York hotel maid. Of course, some term it as a political game. Now the French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde is the favourite candidate for the position. She has secured the unanimous backing of the 27-nation European Union and from the United States and China. But the Russian ambassador said “ I think on the sideline s the G8 leaders will debate this question, even if Madame Lagarde will probably be the best candidate, “ He added that he did not believe his country would have any objections to her.” But the question “ambassador Alexander Orlov further said , “ is whether western Europe should always be heading up this institution and why can’t other countries, notably the BRICS which he meant Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa ” the IMF has promised a meritocratic process to replace Strasss-Kahn, a socialist ex-finance minister who was favoruite to defeat Sarkozy in a French Presidential Election in 2012. It has set a June 30 deadline to pick a successor to the post, which has been held by a European state since 1945. But the emerging market nations are keen to push an alternative. Russsian president Dmitry Mevedev and Finance minister Pravin Gordhan of South Africa one of the 10 African nations invited to the Normancy resort are likely to defend the BRCIS’ stance. Certainly it has merits. The institution has so far played no commendable role in alleviating poverty from the developing world. The role model of addressing poverty alleviation issue actually does not fit to the strategy of the developed world. The top position of this institution has been occupied by the western European people who actually cannot delve deep into the real poverty alleviating issues of the poor counters. So we urge the G8 leaders to recommend to someone from the developing countries to do something meaningful in the history of the IMF.