33rd G8 summit

Infobox G8
summit_name = 33rd G8 Summit
year = 2007

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size = 350px
caption = 33rd G8 Summit official logo
country = Germany
dates = June 6 – June 8,

The 33rd G8 summit took place at Kempinski Grand Hotel in Heiligendamm in the old Duchy of Mecklenburg in the Northern German state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern on the Baltic Coast, from June 6 to June 8 2007.The locations of previous G8 summits to have been hosted by Germany include: Bonn (1978, 1985); Munich (1992) and Cologne (1999). The G8 is an unofficial forum which brings together the heads of the richest industrialized countries: France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada (since 1976), Russia (since 1998),Saunders, Doug. [http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080704.wG8-analysis05/BNStory/International/columnists "Weight of the world too heavy for G8 shoulders,"] "Globe and Mail" (Toronto). July 5, 2008.] the President of the European Commission (since 1981). [Reuters: [http://uk.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUKB26280520080703?sp=true "Factbox: The Group of Eight: what is it?"] , July 3, 2008.]

The G8 summits during the twenty-first century have also involved widespread parallel debates and protests by citizens.

Composition of summit leaders

The core membership of the G8 has remained constant since Russia joined the talks at the 1997 summit in Denver.

Permanent

This was the first G8 summit for Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and French President Nicolas Sarkozy, and the final one for British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
* Canada Stephen Harper, Prime Minister
* flagicon|France France Nicolas Sarkozy, President
* Germany Angela Merkel, ChancellorAngela Merkel attended as German Chancellor "and" as the President of the European Council]
* Italy Romano Prodi, Prime Minister
* Japan Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister
* Russia Vladimir Putin, President
* United Kingdom Tony Blair, Prime Minister
* United States George W. Bush, President

Invited (partial participation)

The leaders of a number of non-G8 countries were invited to attend and participate in the summit.

G8+5

The G8 plus the five largest emerging economies has come to be known as G8+5.
* Brazil Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, President.
* China Hu Jintao, President.
* India Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister.
* Mexico Felipe Calderón, President.
* South Africa Thabo Mbeki, President.

Heads of international organizations

Leaders of the major international organizations, such as the United Nations, WTO, OECD, World Bank, the African Union and the International Energy Agency, have also been invited to participate in the outreach sessions.

* .
*flagicon|CIS Commonwealth of Independent States Nursultan Nazarbayev, Executive Secretary
* , Director General
* United Nations Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General
* European Union Jose Manuel Barroso, Commission President
* , Director General.
* , President.
* , Director-General.
* , Director-General.

Priorities

Traditionally, the host country of the G8 summit sets the agenda for negotiations, which take place primarily amongst multi-national civil servants in the weeks before the summit itself, leading to a joint declaration which all countries can agree to sign. [G8 Information Centre: [http://www.g8.utoronto.ca/evaluations/2007heiligendamm/2007agenda.html Prospective agenda] ] In any event, security for the world leaders and for the venue remained a high priority throughout.

chedule and Agenda

At the end of the 32nd G8 summit in Russia, German Chancellor Angela Merkel reported that the agenda of the G8 summit in 2007 had not been determined, but "the struggle against poverty across the globe will be a priority."

According to the official German Presidency website, the summit's motto was "Growth and Responsibility," focusing on "Investition, Innovation und Nachhaltigkeit (Investment, Innovation and Sustainability)", and "Africa: good governance, sustainable investment, peace and security". [ [http://www.g-8.de/Webs/G8/EN/Agenda/agenda.html Official Agenda] , g-8.de] Transparency of the financial markets, intellectual property and energy efficiency will also be on the agenda, as well as talks about climate change.

On April 13, 2007, Oil Change International released a reported leaked draft of the economic communique. [PDFlink| [http://priceofoil.org/wp-content/uploads/2007/04/Draft%20G8%20Feb%202007%20Version.pdf G8 Summit declarations] |638 KiB , draft of February 2007] The G8 financial ministers began pre-summit meetings on 30 May 2007. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6703105.stm "Ministers in talks for G8 summit"] , "BBC News", 30 May 2007]

Citizens' responses and authorities' counter-responses

Protesters and demonstrations

As with all recent G8 summits, the event drew large protests, part of the anti-globalization movement (a term not generally used by its supporters). However, because of the isolated location of the summit, protests were much smaller than in previous years.On December 29, 2006, anonymous protesters splattered the Kempinski hotel with red and black paintbombs; the combination of red and black is a common symbol of the anarchist movement for flags, banners, stickers etc.For the 33rd G8 summit, the local police expected about 100,000 protesters from all parts of Germany and other countries. Preparations were nervous on both sides: 16,000 policemen and over 1,000 soldiers were deployed to protect the interests of the G8 heads of state and government, a 12 kilometer-long steel fence was built around Heiligendamm for the price of €12.4 million (approx. $16.6 million), and ATTAC Germany chartered three trains to get as many discontented citizens as possible from the farther parts of Germany and nearby countries to the year's biggest unified demonstration against G8, [ [http://www.heiligendamm2007.de/Presse/Demo_PE_070424.html Press release] of the demonstration consortium, 24 April 2007] along with numerous buses organized by various groups and political parties. The main demonstration took place June 2, 2007 in the nearby city of Rostock and was the starting event for a week of protests and blockades. Organizers spoke of up to 80,000 participants, while police put the figure at an estimated 25,000. [ [http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,486307,00.html - SPIEGEL.de international edition] ] Towards the end of the June 2 protest, violent clashes occurred between protesters and the police, essentially limited to a small area at the harbor. Initially, these drew wide media overstatement, with initial reports claiming nearly 1000 people injured (433 German police officers, 30–33 of them requiring hospitalisation, [ [http://de.news.yahoo.com/03062007/286/politik-zahl-verletzten-polizisten-rostock-433-gestiegen.html Yahoo.de News: "Zahl der verletzten Polizisten in Rostock auf 433 gestiegen"] ] and 520 protesters, 20 requiring hospitalisation [ [http://de.news.yahoo.com/03062007/3/organisatoren-zaehlen-520-verletzte-demonstranten-krawallen.html Yahoo.de News: "Organisatoren zählen 520 verletzte Demonstranten nach Krawallen"] ] ). Later, these figures were disputed, [ [http://www.focus.de/politik/deutschland/g8-gipfel/rostock-krawalle_aid_62405.html Focus online: "Rostock-Krawalle: Zahl der Verletzten zweifelhaft"] ] and the number of police requiring hospitalization was corrected to 2. [ [http://www.jungewelt.de/2007/06-06/040.php junge Welt: "Kampf um die Köpfe"] ] According to police estimates, 2,000 autonomists led the riots, setting fire to a total of 3 cars and setting up make-shift barricades; many peaceful protesters fled the action and ensuing police response in panic. [ [http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,486307,00.html German city rocked by violent riots - SPIEGEL.de international edition] ] Over 1,000 protesters were detained, and nine of them were tried and condemned during the summit European Democratic Lawyers (EDL): [http://www.statewatch.org/news/2007/jun/g8-edl-statement.pdf Press statement (in English)] ] . Hundreds were expelled . According to the European Democratic Lawyers NGO:

The evidence collected in this manner was absolutely inconsistent and as previously noted everybody detained was released after brief periods of time. In fact it all amounts to an illegal system of mass-indexing and psychological terrorism. The police were aware that the judicial authority would not have confirmed these arrests but proceeded equally with a different objective. The aim was not to arrest presumed offenders but the indexing of a great number of demonstrators, the psychological intimidation of the protesters and the creation of false records to be used in other occasions.

A protest also occurred on 2 June 2007 on the river bank opposite the Houses of Parliament in London, principally a reminder of the G8's previous (and, as the protestors saw them, unfulfilled) promises on debt relief, entitled "G8 – The World Can't Wait" and "Wake Up To Poverty". It was a static protest, with small marches converging on in from Lambeth Park and Methodist Central Hall, on a route starting at the foot of Victoria Tower, along the riverbank of Victoria Tower Gardens, the north side of Lambeth Bridge, and the southern riverbank opposite Parliament as far as (but not including) Westminster Bridge. This principally involved the protesters setting off alarm clocks at 2pm as a "wakeup call" to the G8, and passed without incident. [ [http://www.yourvoiceagainstpoverty.org.uk/come-to-london "Wakeup call" demonstration] ]

Accomplishments

The G8 summit is an international event which is observed and reported by news media, but the G8's continuing relevance after more than 30 years is somewhat unclear. [Lee, Don. [http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-fg-summit6-2008jul06,0,2282497.story "On eve of summit, G-8's relevance is unclear,"] "Los Angeles Times." July 6, 2008.] More than one analyst suggests that a G-8 summit is not the place to flesh out the details of any difficult or controversial policy issue in the context of a three-day event. Rather, the meeting offers an opportunity to bring a range of complex and sometimes inter-related issues. The G8 summit brings leaders together "not so they can dream up quick fixes, but to talk and think about them together."Feldman, Adam. [http://www.forbes.com/opinions/2008/07/05/problems-unity-progress-oped-cx_af_summit08_0707feldman.html "What's Wrong With The G-8,"] "Forbes" (New York). July 7, 2008.] ]

Global warming

In a non-binding communiqué issued on Thursday June 7, it was announced that the G8 nations would 'aim to at least halve global CO₂ emissions by 2050'. The details enabling this to be achieved would be negotiated by environment ministers within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in a process that would also include the major emerging economies. Groups of countries would also be able to reach additional agreements on achieving the goal outside and in parallel with the United Nations process. [http://www.g-8.de/nn_92160/Content/EN/Artikel/__g8-summit/2007-06-07-g8-klimaschutz__en.html Breakthrough on climate protection] , " G8 Summit 2007 Heiligendamm", published 2007-06-07, accessed 2007-06-07]

The G8 also announced their desire to use the proceeds from the auction of emission rights and other financial tools to support climate protection projects in developing countries.

The agreement was welcomed by British Prime Minister Tony Blair as 'a major, major step forward'. [ [http://www.guardian.co.uk/uklatest/story/0,,-6691506,00.html PM hails G8 climate change step] "Guardian Unlimited", published 2007-06-07, accessed 2007-06-07] French president Nicolas Sarkozy would have preferred a binding figure for emissions reduction to have been set. [ [http://www.forbes.com/markets/feeds/afx/2007/06/07/afx3799654.html Sarkozy says would have preferred climate change target to be binding] , "Forbes", published 2007-06-07, accessed 2007-06-07] This was apparently blocked by U.S. President George W. Bush until the other major greenhouse gas emitting countries, like India and China, make similar commitments. [ [http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L07182869.htm G8 leaders agree "substantial" greenhouse gas cuts] , "Reuters", published 2007-06-07, accessed 2007-06-07]

Missile defence system

En route to the summit, U.S. president George Bush attempted to assuage Russian concerns over U.S. plans to construct a missile defence system in Poland (see US missile defense complex in Poland) and the Czech Republic with remarks appearing to invite Russian participation in the project. At the summit, Russian president Vladimir Putin responded by suggesting that the radar installments for the proposed missile defence system be placed in Azerbaijan. Bush, in turn, responded by describing Putin's ideas as "an interesting suggestion".

G8+5 Institutionalisation

Chancellor Angela Merkel announced the establishment of the "Heiligendamm Process" through which the full institutionalisation of the permanent dialogue between the G8 countries and the 5 greatest emerging economies will be implemented.

This process puts an end to the enlargement debate of the G8 into a hypothetical G9, G11, etc. since Merkel declared "The objective is the cohesion of all these countries into a single group which will be called G8+5".

Controversed video of Sarkozy

Contrary to French TV, the Belgian TV network diffused a video of French President Nicolas Sarkozy who appeared to be drunk after a chat with Russian head of state Vladimir Putin [ [http://www.lemonde.fr/web/recherche_breve/1,13-0,37-993348,0.html The Controversed Video of Sarkozy in the G8] , "Le Monde", 10 June 2007 (with links to the video) ] .

Location

Heiligendamm is situated on the Baltic near the city Rostock, and is the oldest seaside resort in Germany [cite web|url=http://www.heiligendamm.de/modules.php?op=modload&name=seiten&file=index&pagename=heiligendamm-eng|title=Heiligendamm - First German Seaside Resort|accessdate=2006-07-19] , developed in 1793 as the seaside meeting place of nobility and high society close to Frederick Francis I, Duke of Mecklenburg. It was selected as the location for the G8 summit due to its isolated location, in anticipation of protests such as those in Gleneagles and St Petersburg. The summit site was fenced off by 12 km long barrier, costing an approximate EUR 12.4 million. [http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,2144,2346773,00.html Heiligendamm Prepares for the G8 Summit] . Deutsche Welle, 17 February 2007. Retrieved 9 May 2007.]

Heiligendamm, known as "White Town by the Sea", also used to be the summer getaway of the Russian imperial family, who also were related to the Dukes of Mecklenburg. For the occasion of the G8 summit, a former summer residence of the imperial family was demolished to make space for a media centre.

References

ee also

*Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
*Kyoto Protocol

External links

* G8 Research Group: [http://www.g8.utoronto.ca G8 Information Centre] ,University of Toronto
* Official G8 website: [http://www.g-8.de/Webs/G8/EN/Homepage/home.html Heiligendamm]

General
* [http://www.heiligendamm2007.de/ Official website of the related anti G8 demonstration] / [http://www.heiligendamm2007.de/Demo_en/index_demo_en.html English version (less extensive)]
* [http://www.g8youth.org MODEL G8 YOUTH SUMMIT 2007, G8-Simulation, Berlin - May 2007]
* [http://priceofoil.org/wp-content/uploads/2007/04/Draft%20G8%20Feb%202007%20Version.pdf Reported "leaked draft" of Economic Communique]
* [http://weblog.greenpeace.org/makingwaves/G8%20Summit%20Declaration%20-%20US%20comments%20May%2014-1.pdf Reported "leaked draft" of Global Warming Communique (with US Government redlining)]
* [http://g8-tv.org/ G8 TV - daily video stream from the G8]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6721639.stm 33rd G8 summit: Issues and controversies (BBC)]
* [http://www.intreview.com/dossier.php?id=23 Internationalist Review: The Presence of the Past - How German fear of terrorism in the 1970s might restrict criticism of the G8 today]

Security
* [http://www.polizei.mvnet.de/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=3089&Itemid=273 Mecklenburg-Vorpommern police force]

In the media
*May 31, 2007, "Agence France-Presse": [http://www.afp.com/english/news/stories/070531201424.rb387ox0.html Bush pushes new climate change plan]
*May 14, 2007, "BBC": [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/6651295.stm US seeks G8 climate text changes]