Terrorism, climate and Russia were the main topics of the first day of the G7 summit
About what place Russia will take in the final communiqué of the “sevens” will be known by the end of the meeting.
TAORMINA /Italy/, may 27. /Offset. TASS Ilya Dmitriev, Faith Shcherbakov/. The fight against terrorism, climate change and ways of cooperation with Russia were the main topics of the first day of the summit of the group of seven, which started on Friday in the Italian town of Taormina on the island of Sicily. And, if the first two topics officially included in the agenda, Russia or in one program did not appear. At the same time, said on the subject of relations with Moscow was a lot.
Terrorism in the foreground
Communication of the leaders of the G7 and the European Union leaders held in the hotel “San Domenico”, a former Dominican monastery, converted into a hotel.
The only document signed at the meeting was the Declaration on the fight against terrorism and armed extremism.
The presidency of the G7 Italy originally invited to discuss the topic of terrorism. But especially pressing and important sound of the subject acquired after a perfect may 22 in Manchester, England by a suicide bomber in a terrorist act. Victims of the largest terrorist attack in the UK for the last 12 years were 22 people and dozens were injured. That is why British Prime Minister Theresa may has made a great contribution to the development of the wording of the Declaration.
In the outcome document of the 15 paragraphs, the emphasis was placed on the need to carefully monitor the citizens of the developed countries became mercenaries in conflicts abroad. Navoyevat in Syria and Iraq under the black banner of the extremists, they return home, presenting a huge risk for their countries.
In this situation, the G7 leaders agreed “to lead the fight against terrorism to a higher level”, for example, more generously Fund the governments of countries where there are foreign mercenaries. This is necessary in order to enhance their capacity to catch the extremists, preventing their penetration in the native countries.
Similarly, support was expressed for the proposal may attract the largest international Internet resources to identify and curb the spread of terrorist or extremist nature. “The Corporation should increase their efforts to remove harmful content from their networks,” urged may, drawing attention to the fact that losing their positions in Syria and Iraq, foreign fighters return to their countries and “spreading the ideology of hatred on the Internet”.
No figures on future investment in the implementation of this communiqué are not. And yet, the leaders of the countries “the seven” has managed to show unity.
Trade and climate debate without progress
To achieve consensus on two other topics stood on the agenda — trade and climate change, was not so simple.
In fact, here the idea was to put pressure on US President Donald trump, persuading him to depart from the promised trade protectionism and persistent scepticism about the fight against climate change.
Judging by the cautious statements on the first day of the meeting, much success partners trump G7 in this way is not achieved.
About the trade was told very little about the climate — not much more.
“At the table for talks, there was no doubt about the fact, how important is the issue of climate change”, — assured Mae, became the sole leader of the “Big seven”, who gave a press conference. At the same time, she acknowledged that the U.S. position on this issue continues to emerge.
This was confirmed by the head of the National economic Council the White house Gary Cohn, who has led the Agency Reuters. “His (trump’s) views are changing, as it should be. In the end he will make the decision based on what’s best for the United States,” he said, adding not much clarity about the fact whether the participants of the meeting in Taormina somehow closer, with the new occupant of the White house or not.
Thus, said European Council President Donald Tusk on Friday morning, saying that “it will be one of the most difficult summits of the G7 in recent years” because of the differences in the positions on climate change and trade, has been confirmed.
Russian theme
In contrast to these two questions, the topic was not in the official agenda, but there is little doubt that it will be raised. “I will urge the leaders of the G7 to reaffirm its position (on the anti-Russian sanctions)”, — promised in the morning Tusk.
To justify such a rigid position, he lamented the fact that since the last summit “the seven” in Japan, Union members “saw nothing that would justify a change in the sanctions policy against Russia”.
Later on this subject in Taormina was supported by the representative of the White house. “We do not remove our sanctions against Russia. If anything, we will likely be tougher against Russia,” he said.
It is noteworthy that the theme of relations with Russia was raised on Friday in Taormina not only in the G7 format, but also in bilateral meetings. Talked about this, for example, the Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe and the President of France Emmanuel macron. “They agreed that for the resolution of international issues need the involvement of Russia and the dialogue with Russia is extremely important,” — said the press Secretary of the Japanese foreign Ministry. As examples, in which Russia can cooperate in a constructive manner, he called “Syria and North Korea.”
The agenda of the final day of
About what place Russia will take in the final communiqué of the group of seven, will be known after the meeting. The document should be circulated immediately after the talks, around 15:00 (16:00 GMT). As it became known TASS reported from sources close to the organization of the summit, this time a final Declaration to be approximately three times the previous concise and takes only about 10 pages.
However, before that G7 leaders will hold working sessions with the heads of the invited countries. This year it were the leaders of Kenya, Niger, Nigeria, Tunisia, Ethiopia. The discussions will also be joined by the head of the International monetary Fund and the United Nations.