industrialized nations (G-8) on Wednesday gathered in the German
Baltic seaside resort of Heiligendamm amid tight security, for the
annual three-day meeting to discuss the political and economic
direction of the world.
They include United States (US) President George Bush, German
Chancellor Angela Merkel, President Vladimir Putin of Russia, Prime
Minister Tony Blair of the UK, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper,
Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi, German President Nicolas Sarkozy
and Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe.
Key issues on the agenda are the promotion of worldwide
economic recovery, making globalisation socially equitable and
delivering on aid pledges to Africa.
Climate change, the row between the US and Russia over the
deployment of a missile shield in Europe and the controversy over
Iran´s Nuclear programme are also likely to dominate the discussions.
President John Agykum Kufuor is attending the meeting
alongside five other African leaders.
They are South African President Thabo Mbeki, newly inaugurated
Nigerian President Umaru Musa Yar,dua, President Hosni Mubarak of
Egypt, Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade and Algerian President
Abdul Aziz Bouteflika.
The G-8 leaders according to a programme released by the
summit organisers would have a special session with the African
leaders on Friday.
President Kufuor is also scheduled to hold bilateral talks on
the sidelines with the leaders of Germany, Italy and Russia.
German Chancellor Merkel whose country holds
the Presidency of the G-8 said the goal was to identify solutions to
the challenges of security, environment and development policy issues
confronting humanity.
06 June 2007
