Fuente : World Bank
http://www.worldbank.org

Mideast Peace Tops G8 Foreign Ministers' Meeting

/noticias.info/ Foreign ministers of the G8 group of major industrialized nations will discuss Middle East peace efforts and how to ease Israel's planned withdrawal from Gaza when they meet on Thursday, reports Reuters.

As fears mount that violence will beset Israel's pullout, planned for August, ministers will say they see an orderly evacuation from Gaza as vital to renewing peace moves stalled by nearly five years of bloodshed. British officials say there will be a presentation by James Wolfensohn, the former World Bank President, who is now a special envoy representing the "quartet" of Middle East peace mediators charged with overseeing the pullout. Wolfensohn's mission is to revive the Palestinian economy after Israel's withdrawal and to raise a Palestinian aid package of about $3 billion.

The Guardian (UK) adds that British officials said that they expected Wolfensohn to propose the G8 should offer further assistance [on the Middle East] - with a "price tag" attached. Prior to the main meeting, there will be a breakfast gathering of "the quartet" on the Middle East, represented by the United Nations Secretary General, Kofi Annan, the US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, the Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, and the EU high representative Javier Solana.

The G8 ministers will also meet the Afghan foreign minister, Abdullah Abdullah, to underline their support for the country as it approaches elections in September. With Britain set to take over the leadership of the international peacekeeping force in Afghanistan next year, officials emphasized that assistance would have to continue for years to come. "We do see our commitment to Afghanistan in

The Associated Press further notes a senior British official said Britain would urge the other G8 members to make a long-term commitment to helping Afghanistan. In return, the Government of Afghan President Hamid Karzai would have to make progress on good governance, building institutions, tackling corruption and improving human rights, the official said on condition of anonymity. Britain is working closely with Karzai's government to tackle the narcotics problem. A five-point plan developed in the latter half of 2004 includes promotion of alternative crops for poppy farmers, eradication and interdiction of heroin labs and storage facilities.

Agence France Presse also reports that campaigners from the Control Arms Campaign group that released on Wednesday a report titled "The G8: Global Arms Exporters -- Failing to Prevent Irresponsible Arms Transfers,” urged foreign ministers from the G8 to tackle the harmful impact of their arms sales on a bid to combat global poverty at the G8 Foreign Minister’s Thursday meeting. Determined to raise awareness about the issue ahead of the meeting, campaigners drove a 17-ton tank around London delivering copies of the report to the G8 embassies. "What we want to come out of Thursday's meeting is a clear commitment to push for an international arms trade treaty and put a swift process in place," said Oxfam policy advisor Debbie Hillier. "It really is the time to make some action and if Blair's call for action on Africa is to have any credibility then dealing with the arms issue has got to be taken on board.”


The Guardian finally notes that Iraq is not listed for discussion on the agenda, and nor are Africa or climate change, although they will form the main theme of the Gleneagles summit from July 6 to 8. notas_de_prensa_archivo