Talks between G8 foreign ministers in Paris focussed on major regional and international security issues, paving the way for the weekend's G8 summit in Evian, writes Gamal Nkrumah Trade disputes and political differences between the United States and the European Union threaten to dominate discussions at the upcoming G8 summit in Evian in France. The G8 is a grouping of the world's seven wealthiest nations -- the US, Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan -- in addition to Russia. The novel idea of having a pre-Evian summit of key developing countries such as Brazil, China, Egypt, India, Nigeria and South Africa on Sunday 1 June is French President Jacques Chirac's. With his focus on the dangers of the North- South divide, Chirac has emerged as the dubious champion of the rights of developing countries. This year's G8 summit takes place against the backdrop of bitter rancour between Washington and some of its European allies over the US-led aggression against Iraq. Britain, Italy and Japan sided with the US, while France, Germany and Russia opposed the US invasion and occupation of Iraq. The political rifts have spilled over into the arena of transatlantic trade relations. Many US congressmen are urging a ban on French imports. The US consumer boycott of French products has had a detrimental impact on the sale of French wines and cheeses in the US. Complicating developments include the EU moratorium on genetically-modified foods. US steel tariffs, US corporate tax laws and anti- dumping laws are other pressing domestic market regulation and trade issues that have soured relations between the US and the EU. These trade disputes come against the backdrop of the economic downturn in both the US and Europe. Washington is, therefore, especially impatient with the French obsession with North-South issues. Chirac has also refused to budge on the question of the EU's Common Agricultural Policy reform, which has angered the Americans and disappointed the developing countries of the South. Meanwhile, some of the G8 nations are not doing very well in economic terms. While Chirac puts on a brave face, the French economy is reeling from deep depression and the country is paralysed by strikers. On Tuesday, a strike by air traffic controllers virtually cut off France from the outside world when more than 80 per cent of all flights into and out of France were cancelled. The unions are up in arms and post office workers, teachers and telecommunications employees have all gone on strike. And last Sunday, an estimated 300,000 demonstrators took to the streets of Paris protesting French government plans to reform the pension system. Germany, too, is faced with grim economic problems, and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder is expected to play chief mediator at Evian. The Italian economy is in dire straits as the country readies itself to assume the EU presidency. On 22 and 23 May, a week before the G8 summit, foreign ministers met in Paris to iron out differences. "Friendly and frank," was how French officials described the talks, which centred on the Middle East peace roadmap and Iraq. "Divergent points of view were expressed," said French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin. But, the onus was on reconciliation. At least US Secretary of State Colin Powell did not dismiss de Villepin's friendly overtures. G8 finance ministers, meanwhile, met in the northern French resort of Deauville. Discussions focussed on reviving the stalled World Trade Organisation's Doha multilateral trade negotiations. Other trade issues, ranging from Iraqi foreign debt to development concerns, were tackled. Washington warned that Iraq's foreign debt could cripple the country for years to come. Everyone agreed that financial support for the reconstruction of Iraq is absolutely vital. The US wants other G8 powers to pledge aid contributions similar to the ones promised Afghanistan shortly after the end of the US-led Afghan campaign. Others are more reluctant to do so until an interim Iraqi administration is firmly put in place. France, Germany, Russia and Canada want to see a greater role played in Iraq by the United Nations and its affiliate organisations, especially in the areas of humanitarian relief and welfare provision. But discussions on the critical question of debt servicing and repayments by poor and underdeveloped countries hardly featured at the discussions in Deauville. "G8 leaders must end the scandal of Third World debt," said Bob Geldof, speaking on behalf of the Jubilee Debt Campaign, the main organisation championing the writing off of poor, war-torn and underdeveloped countries' debts. "Impoverished, hungry and dying people are still sending millions in debt repayments that can be used for schools, hospitals and farms. One hundred per cent debt relief must be the achievable aim." The usual gestures promising benevolence were made by the rich and powerful. Ahead of the Evian summit, US President George W Bush announced that Washington was setting aside $15 billion to fight AIDS. Europe, shamed into action, will no doubt follow suit. France, however, also wants to step up the fight against other, less talked about, pandemics such as malaria and tuberculosis. Developing countries -- both leaders and civil society organisations -- took these pious promises with a pinch of salt.
