G7 unites on Russia sanctions, climate change, Greece and IS
ELMAU CASTLE, GERMANY: After spending much of the first day talking about Ukraine, leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) wealthy democracies shifted their focus yesterday to global issues including climate change, terrorism and the threat from diseases such as Ebola.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel aimed to get backing for a strong agreement on cutting back carbon-based fuels and renewing commitments to limit global warming to a 2-degree Celsius rise in temperatures, as well as providing US$100 billion in aid to poor countries dealing with the impacts of climate change.
An agreement among the G7 would send a strong signal to the climate change conference in Paris later this year.
But Japan and Canada, in particular, have been less enthusiastic about the kind of strong agreement advocated by Ms Merkel, who has been labeled the “climate chancellor” in Germany.
The G7 — which used to be the G8 until Russia was excluded last year over its actions in Ukraine — also opened its doors to guest speakers from international organisations and developing countries yesterday.
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and World Bank president Jimyong Kim and were on hand to brief leaders on global programmes to combat poverty and disease.
Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, meanwhile, offered his country’s views on the fight against the Islamic State (IS).
US President Barack Obama said it would take time but Islamic State (IS) militants will ultimately be defeated and driven out of Iraq.
Mr Obama said the challenges remain significant in Iraq, where the IS controls large swaths of territory and recently took the key city of Ramadi.
But the president added that success against the militants would ultimately depend on an effective international coalition backing Mr Abadi.
Obama says he’s “absolutely confident we will succeed” if the international coalition supports Mr Abadi and the prime minister has a government that represents everyone.
Mr Abadi thanked Mr Obama and other G7 leaders for their support. He also expressed confidence in ultimate victory.
Turning to the situation in Greece, Ms Merkel said there was “not a lot of time” to work out a deal over more bailout money for the financially troubled southern European nation.
Ms Merkel said Greece needs to agree to take steps to straighten out its finances and economy, as it negotiates with other eurozone countries and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for more bailout loan money.
Greece is dangerously close to running out of money and defaulting on debt repayments to the IMF and the European Central Bank. A default could worsen Greece’s situation and perhaps force it out of the euro.
Ms Merkel said that “we want Greece to remain part of the eurozone but we’ve got the clear message that solidarity ... requires Greece to implement measures”.
Later, the German chancellor said the bloc agreed sanctions against Russia must remain in place until a ceasefire deal for eastern Ukraine is fully respected.
In closing the two-day summit yesterday afternoon (last night, Thai time), Ms Merkel said the G7 was ready to step up the sanctions later if the situation called for it.
The European Union and the United States have imposed economic sanctions on Russia over its conflict with Ukraine.
A ceasefire agreement reached in Minsk has been shaky, with the heaviest fighting in months breaking out in recent days between pro-Russian separatists and Ukrainian forces.
Meanwhile, the mayor of the village where Mr Obama was served a pre-lunchtime beer on Sunday insisted the beverage, consumed around 11am, was alcohol-free.
Mr Merkel welcomed Mr Obama to Kruen, near the summit venue, a few hours before the meeting began on Sunday.
It wasn’t yet noon, but the president was served local delicacies and a large beer.
But Kruen Mayor Thomas Schwarzenberger said yesterday that German and US officials had asked that guests be given only alcohol-free drinks, so that’s what kind of beer Mr Obama, Ms Merkel and her husband, Joachim Sauer, drank.
Protesters, who were kept far from the conference venue, staged a final peaceful rally nearby Garmisch-Partenkirchen yesterday morning.