Commitment on nuclear non-proliferation.
For the G8 Foreign Ministers meeting in Trieste, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction is the main threat to international security. Hence the commitment to act together to strengthen the multilateral legal framework in the run-up to the Non-Proliferation Treaty Review in 2010. For the first time, the countries present expressed a unanimous commitment to help build a safer world for all and create the conditions for a world without nuclear weapons.
Piracy: G8 – Frattini announces commitment to establish a Coast Guard service in the Gulf of Aden
“A network of international cooperation to establish a Coast Guard service in the countries fringing the Gulf of Aden” to provide “concrete help for these countries and strengthen their capacity to combat piracy”. This is the undertaking made by the G8 and announced by Minister Frattini as part of the “dissuasion” measures and measures to “remove the root causes of piracy (poverty and weak local institutions)”.
Africa: should be helped to become part of the solution to global security problems, says Frattini
“Africa’s priority position at the centre of the G8 agenda is an Italian proposal on which our partners agree”. Speaking was Minister Frattini, who also said that “we need to act together to help the continent become part of the solution to global security problems, starting by strengthening and giving greater responsibility to regional African organisations, especially the African Union”. The Minister also underscored that Africa “should be considered as an equal partner”, while we need to discard the “old pairing of aid ‘donors vs. beneficiaries’ and focus on protecting human rights and, above all, weaker categories such as women and children”.
On Somalia, the G8 countries “share strong concerns over instability and the humanitarian situation” and have renewed their “support for the provisional federal government in its efforts to create an agreed, sustainable peace”. In Frattini’s view “it is crucial to support aid commitments on behalf of the Somali budget and strengthening its institutions” and announced that Italy “has decided to introduce a programme, in collaboration with the Somali Government and the African Union, to establish a Somali coast guard”.
Iran: an immediate stop to the violence, yes to democratic debate
The Iranian crisis must be resolved through democratic dialogue and peaceful methods. This is the appeal voiced by the G8 Foreign Ministers meeting in Trieste. Illustrating the joint declaration, Minister Frattini called for “an immediate halt to the violence” and sent a “strong invitation” to seek “peaceful solutions […] in keeping with Iran’s domestic legal framework”. Within the G8 there is “unity of intent and action” and “we have condemned, with no ifs and buts, the killings, the violence and the repression”, added the Minister.
The German Foreign Minister, Steinmeier, also spoke of the common position. “What we have seen in Teheran – the brutal repression of demonstrations by people claiming their legitimate rights – is unacceptable”, he noted, underscoring that the G8 has an “interest” in seeing the crisis resolved, not least to be able to address the nuclear dossier. His Russian colleague, Lavrov, said he was seriously worried about the use of force and hoped that Teheran would resolve all its problems in a democratic manner. The British Foreign Minister, Miliband, stated that the G8 representatives were “united in saying that it is up to the Iranian people to choose their own government, but the government also has a duty to protect its people” and that the recent violence “shows that the government is not able to provide that protection”.
Nuclear: Iran – G8 seeking a diplomatic solution, but the timescale is not infinite
The G8 Foreign Ministers hope to see a diplomatic solution to the Iranian nuclear dossier and invited Iran to cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and comply with the UN resolutions. “An open door for dialogue”, stated Minister Frattini, “but the timescale is not infinite”. In coming months the G8 will verify whether “the hand extended in dialogue is grasped or not”. “Useful and balanced” is how the Russian Foreign Minister, Serghiei Lavrov, defined the G8 declaration and added, “I don’t think we will be seeing changes in the Iranian Government’s position on this problem […] we must be prepared for this and show patience and be guided by an agreed policy”.
Middle East: the G8 appeals to both sides to fulfil their road map commitments
“We call on both sides to fulfil their Road Map commitments, including those of ‘freezing’ settlements (also those that have grown up naturally) and bringing an unequivocal end to violence and terrorism”. More specifically, Minister Frattini spoke of a “convergence of intent” on 4 points:
a) the need for a rapid resumption of negotiations to achieve a solution based on the “two states, two peoples” principle
b) the need to create a climate of trust for the negotiations through a halt to Israeli settlements and the cessation of acts of violence by the Palestinians
c) the urgent need to improve the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip
d) a regional approach, i.e. a normalisation of relations between Israel and the Arab countries.
“In this framework”, explained Frattini, “we welcome the Russian initiative for a Conference on the Middle East to be held in Moscow”. Minister Frattini also urged the G8 to “take steps to fulfil the various promises of aid for the Palestinian economy”.
North Korean dossier
On the North Korean dossier, the G8 Ministers firmly condemned the nuclear experiments conducted in breach of United Nations Resolution 1874/2009, whose provisions should be applied “in a transparent and rigorous manner” by the international community. The Ministers also “renewed their call” to North Korea to return to the negotiating table.