MOSCOW, May 19 (Itar-Tass) —— Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev will represent Russia at the meeting of the G8 heads of state and government at Camp David, the US, on May 18-19.
"The Group of Eight is an important mechanism for coordinating the positions of the leading industrialized nations on global issues, current international political issues, social and humanitarian aspects of assistance to international development,” the press service of the Russian government said. “We regard the effective work of the G8 as one of the most important means of strengthening global governance on a collective basis. In this fashion we will prepare for the presidency of the Russian Federation of the group of eight in 2014."
The American presidency identified the following issues as the priorities of the G8 in 2012: economic growth, food security (with a focus on Africa) energy security, assistance to Afghanistan, cooperation with the Arab countries experiencing political and socio-economic transformation. The summit is expected to adopt a final declaration, which will contain a number of decisions and action plans for the above priority areas.
By tradition, the leaders will also discuss the most topical international political issues. This year, in accordance with the program of the summit, on the first day there will be an exchange of views on the situation in Syria, the problems of Iran's nuclear program, North Korea's nuclear program and other current issues.
In preparing the summit, the Russian side proposed to include in the agenda the fight against international terrorism.
The American presidency focused the economic debate on stimulating economic growth and the creation of jobs. Although the leading global forum for the consideration of financial and economic issues is the Group of Twenty, the meeting at Camp David, too, will highlight some of the problems that slow down the economic growth inside the G8 states.
Another important theme in this section - the need to accelerate the reform of international financial institutions so as to bring them into line with the new economic realities - the transformation of developing countries and countries with economies in transition into the engines of economic growth and the shift of "the balance of power" in the global economy in their favor.
Closely linked with the economic issues is energy security, which will also be touched upon at the summit. Back in 2006, at the initiative of Russia, which then chaired the G8, the Group endorsed the principles of global energy security, which remain fully valid.
At Camp David, there will be discussed, in particular, the need for the efficient use of a wide range of energy resources, including both fossil and renewable sources, implementation of the Russian proposals to strengthen nuclear safety, the need for the safe use of new technologies for the extraction of hydrocarbons, a careful analysis of their environmental impact and the employment of the findings of this analysis in making economic decisions.
In the discussion of climate issues Russia believes it is important to focus on the successful completion of preparations for a comprehensive agreement that will provide for the legal obligations of all parties to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. These negotiations are based on the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.
The American presidency has proposed to focus the work of the G8 on food security in Africa by launching the New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition. The objectives of this initiative are an increase in private investments in the agriculture of African countries, the transfer of advanced technologies, and reduction of investment risks in the agricultural sector. In the framework of the New Alliance a package of measures are to be taken on the above-mentioned tracks, aimed at supporting African countries in implementing national plans for the development of agriculture.
Discussion of these issues at the summit will be held in a larger format, with the heads of several African countries, international financial institutions and private corporations taking part.
Considerable attention at the summit at Camp David will be paid to the issue of support for Afghanistan during the transition period, related with the plans for the withdrawal of international military presence in the country.
As it is expected, the leaders will discuss the situation in the Middle East and North Africa, including that in the context of the summit in Deauville on the establishment of partnerships with the countries of the Arab Spring (includes Egypt, Jordan, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia, as well as donors – a number of countries in the Persian Gulf) in order to support political and economic reforms. The American presidency has proposed to develop the French initiative by drawing up a detailed action plan for the implementation of partnerships in four areas - the stabilization of the economy, creation of jobs, improvement of governance, including the fight against corruption, and the promotion of regional integration and exchanges with the countries of the region.
On the sidelines of the summit there will be held several bilateral meetings between Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev and the heads of state and government participating in the summit.