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Bangla 2000 Feature:-- How G-7 became G-8 |
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August 4, 2000
[ The recently concluded 26th G-8 summit had a lot to offer in the field of IT. In this G-8, Russia is the 'odd man out'. Because all the other 7 countries are the richest seven in the world. Russia is powerful, but nowhere near the G-7.In fact it was not G-8 for the last 26 years. Near about 7 years ago it turned into G-8 from G-7. Our Bangla 2000’s Editor of News ,on the eve of a G-7 summit in 1992, took a light hearted look at the G-8 initiative .We present it here for your pleasure. It’ll help you understand how rapidly the world has changed, in a few years. ] G-7 going on G-8 ' : Russia somersaulting in Lot of heat has been generated over the summit meeting of the seven major industrialized countries of the world, known as the 'Group of Seven' ( G-7), which begins in Munich, the capital of Germany’s Bavarian province, today.
Thousands of residents in Munich came out on the streets yesterday protesting the selection of their city as the venue of the summit meeting, which they termed as 'a new conspiracy of the rich nations against' the Third World countries . The protestors defied ban on processions to denounce the "economic colonization" of the poor nations by the economic power group, raising right-wing extremism in Germany, and new restrictions on asylum policy. The summit meeting, according to them, is a political expression. The group preaches democracy but it does not practice it.
Another vital issue that jolted the leaders of the G-7, even before they could settle their respective economic strategies, is American president Bush's determined initiative to see that Russia, even if it is not capitalist, is included in the club of the world's biggest economic powers. "I will be prepared to discuss making it the G-8", Bush said before leaving Washington for Munich on Saturday to attend the summit meeting.
Japan has already expressed its surprise over the American President's move. Britain and Germany have termed the initiative as 'too soon'. Germany maintained that Russia today still does not have the qualifications----economic or political---- to become member of the group----be it G-7 or G-8, so fast.
As top aid provider, Germany's voice would certainly shape the guiding lines of future G-7 policies, or particularly the issue of Russia's entry to the rich club. Britain too is very cautious about swallowing the bitter US pill, while other members of the group----France, Italy and Canada---- are already preparing to raise their concern on the issue. This year's summit also holds a significant importance to the industrialized countries as well as the rest of the world. The summit, has this time a longer list of issues in its agenda than the previous years. Among this years topics which are expected to be discussed in the summit are the maintenance of international free trade; the outlining of new international security structures; a coordinate strategy for monetary, fiscal and economic policy aimed at promoting stability and other topics.
Apart from these wide range of economic topics to be discussed at the Munich Summit, there will be a large chunk of political issues as well .As a matter of fact, this year's summit sees the largest number of political topics in its agenda. The political issues include, the tests of North Atlantic Treaty Organization's ( NATO) security structures as well as the Conference for Security and Co-operation in Europe's ( CSCE) security structures. The need for these test programs are arising out of completely new conflict scenarios.
The other political issues to be discussed are, the search of Europe and Europeans for new contours and borders; the Near East and its peace process; the newly formed Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and the severe tests it is facing; and finding out ways to help and express solidarity with the small states that have left their erstwhile mandatory alliances.
Curiously enough, of all the countries of the world, these seven nations were the major opposition forces in the World War . They all were reduced to grave economic and industrial conditions and built their financial sectors from mere scratches after they went 'back to square one' . And within a couple of decades they all were on their apex of development. And the most interesting part of it is that; the only three countries which, in the Great War, were against the alliances of the major powers of the world----and somewhat of the rest of the world too----are there , back on the top again .
The rest of the world could only produce four .
The three countries are Adolf Hitler's Germany, Benito Mussolini's Italy and Emperor Hirohito's Japan. In a happy coincidence, they all meet at these G-7 Summits now forgetting old rivalries.
The Group of Seven's economic counterpart, the developing countries of the Third World----which has its own answer to the Group of Seven: 'the Group of 77'----has certainly some eagerness to ponder at the outcome of this weeks G-7 summit.
The ' Third World' is expected to observe particularly, what attitude does the 'First World', the capitalist West, assume towards the Third World, the underdeveloped countries, in the absence and virtual dismantlement of the 'Second World', the Soviet communist bloc of the Eastern Europe. By the way, that's the actual order of classification by which 'The Third World' got its name.
As the Group of Seven's Heads of States and Governments meet at the Munich summit from today, we would like them to take a cooler look at the whole world in the 'post cold war era'.
The starving people of the rest of the world is counting on the next moves of the economic giants.
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