G8 Bulletin. May 5

The joint statement issued by the G8 Justice and Internal Affairs Ministers on May 5 warned that terrorism is still "a pervasive and global threat" whose activities are coordinated and could use chemical, biological or nuclear weapons. Spain�s Prime Minister proposed that the United Nations Security Council draw up a list of terrorist organizations active around the world. To this, European Council president Kostas Simitis stated that terrorism continues to be a threat but he sees no reason for a new list to be drawn up. He pointed out that terrorism is rooted in economic problems and ideological factors, while certain fronts are still open (as with the Israeli-Palestinian issue).

The G8 ministerial meeting stated that the Al Qaeda terrorist network remains a serious threat, with sleeper cells and agents "ready to act" and bases apparently relocated outside Afghanistan. Al Qaeda is plotting attacks from secret camps established in lawless regions formerly under Soviet control, the G8 ministers� statement said. It gave no details about the foreign camps, but French interior minister Nicolas Sarkozy said Al Qaeda apparently set up new bases in Russia�s rebellious Chechnya region and in the republic of Georgia (although this was denied by the Georgian Security Ministry). Moscow has long said Al Qaeda was active in the Muslim province.

Terrorist acts plotted and perpetrated around the world are mainly coordinated and international terrorists are trained in special centres, according to Russian interior minister Boris Gryzlov. He told journalists that the G8 states agreed that "there are centres of international terrorism in Georgia." Gryzlov also noted that "there are much more than two or three foreign funds funding terrorism within Russia." The G8 justice and interior ministers agreed at their Paris meeting to exchange information with a higher level of confidentiality, and this was one of the most important results of the gathering.

Co-operation on securing and filtering transnational flows by increasing the profile of passports and impeding child pornography were also discussed at the meeting. U.S. secretary David Blunkett won support for details such as fingerprints and, especially, iris patterns (Biometric ID) to be considered for future passports. According to Blunkett, including more physical details in travel documents could help in the fight against illegal immigration, terrorism, organized crime and so-called identity theft. Technology to recognize the patterns in the irises of individuals� eyes already exists, but the U.S. stressed that it is vital for border control systems to be coordinated internationally. Blunket won further support for setting up a working group to draw up common standards and ensure compatability among systems used by different countries. However, experts and official reports are casting doubt on plans to use iris scanning to improve security at national borders.

Another issue on the justice and interior ministers� agenda was fighting child pornography. An international computer database containing more than 150,000 pedophile images is to be set up. Access to evidence gathered from around the world is expected to help police forces speed up the process of identifying victims and tracking down perpetrators of pedophile crime.

Sources: Macedonian Press, Los Angeles Times, Russian Informational Center, New York Daily News, ITAR-TASS, Belfast News Letter, Mark Ward, Western Mail, Birmingham Post, Civil Georgia (Tblisis)

German chancellor Gerhard Schroeder announced his intentions to patch up the differences between his own country and the United States. Schroeder stated that "nobody should attempt to force Germany to make the absurd choice between its friendship with France and its friendship with the U.S.," adding that both relationships were vital. Schroeder will cut short a trip to Asia next week in order to be back in time to meet with U.S. secretary of state Colin Powell.

Palestinian Foreign Affairs Minister Dr. Nabil Sha�ath says that the Palestinian National Authority has accepted the "Road Map" proposed by the U.S., despite many reservations. He is on a formal visit to France to garner support, during which he criticized Israel for being uncooperative.

Japan may temporarily forgive Iraq�s debt obligations to show support for the U.S.-led war. It is considering submitting the proposal at the meeting of G8 finance ministers on May 16 in Deauville, France. Japan is Iraq�s largest creditor, with $3.4 billion in outstanding bonds. Japanese prime minister Junichiro Koizumi and Chinese president Hu Jintao are planning to meet at the 300th anniversary of St. Petersburg, in order to improve relations.

A bill to lift economic sanctions on Iraq will likely be passed this week. It gives the United Nations a limited role, while granting the U.S. and UK control of key areas, including oil revenue. There is a possibility that France will delay the bill. Malaysian foreign minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar warned that the lifting of sanctions does not legitimize the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.

Russian foreign ministry spokesman Aleksandr Yakovenko has welcomed Canada�s decision to postpone its participation in the U.S. Global Missile Defense Program. He described the decision as "a balanced and responsible approach" and said that "the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles should be strengthened first of all." Russia hopes to discuss the issue further at the G8 summit in Evian.

Sources: Reuters, International Press Centre, Yomiuri Shimbun, Bloomberg, Interfax News Agency, Bernama, DPA, AFP, Russian Federation, Knight Ridder Tribune

Many worry that NEPAD will receive scarce recognition at the upcoming G8 Evian Summit in light of other global issues including SARS, Iraq and the attendance of Chinese and Brazilian presidents, Hu Jintao and Lula da Silva. In addition, the crisis involving a court ruling in opposition to Robert Mugabe and the Movement for Democratic Change in Zimbabwe has exacerbated this worry, as the leaders struggle to resolve the conflict. Recent African events such as the Nigerian elections will likely be discussed at the Summit, but there is concern over the International Monetary Fund�s warning to halt donor support if Africa fails to meet the requirements of NEPAD, including macroeconomic stability, good governance and a successful peer review mechanism.

On May 8, the Honourable Susan Whelan, Canadian Minister for International Cooperation, announced a contribution of an initial sum of CA$650,000 to help establish an e-Policy Resource Network for Africa. The contributions will contribute to the CA$10 million aimed at helping Africa develop a stronger information and communications technology program.

French president Jacques Chirac may invite Mugabe to a pre-conference gathering of developing countries at Evian. This has caused concern in many countries, such as England, as many feel that Mugabe should be excluded from such negotiations in light of his past human rights violations.

Sources: Xinhuanet, Financial Mail (Harare), Zimbabwe Independent (Harare), Financial Gazette (Harare), Canada NewsWire, Daily News Bulletin (Moscow)

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	Please send comments to: g8@utoronto.ca This page was last updated February 09, 2007.