Bush starts Europ. trip with many thorny issues
7.18.01 Reuters
WASHINGTON President Bush sets off on his second European trip on Wednesday with a host of
thorny issues awaiting him, from missile defense and climate change to slow global growth and stem-cell research.
Bush flies to Britain to begin a six-day journey that was built around the weekend Group of Eight summit in Genoa,
Italy and will include talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, an audience with Pope John Paul in Rome and a
visit to Kosovo. Before leaving Washington, Bush made clear that he had no intention of backing down on two
issues that have roiled U.S. allies, his plans for a missile defense system and his opposition to the Kyoto
agreement to combat global warming. Russia opposes Bush's plan for a defense system to thwart potential missile
attacks from nations like Iran, Iraq and Libya, arguing that it would violate the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM),
which prohibits such a defensive shield.
"We should not adhere to a treaty that prevents the United States and other freedom-loving people from developing
defenses, not offensive weapons but defenses," Bush told BBC television in an interview broadcast on Tuesday.
Bush laid out an equally tough stance on his decision to withdraw from the 1997 Kyoto agreement that aims to
combat global warming by limiting greenhouse gas emissions. "We believe that we ought to all work together to
reduce greenhouse gases," he told the BBC. "However the (Kyoto) protocol that I inherited is not the proper way to
proceed. We share the goals but the methodology needs to be assessed."
Bush begins his trip on Wednesday in Britain, where he will hold talks with British Prime Minister Tony Blair at
Chequers, his official country residence, and have lunch with Queen Elizabeth at Buckingham Palace. The trip's
heavy lifting comes in Genoa, where Bush joins the other leaders of the Group of Seven industrial nations Britain,
Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan, along with Russia for their annual summit, which starts on Friday.
push for trade, growth
With all of the major industrialized countries suffering from slow growth, analysts expect there to be some talk but
little action on how to revive the world economy, particularly given disagreements between Europe and the United
States over who should be the "locomotive" for global expansion. Bush also hopes to use the summit to nudge
along efforts to launch a new round of global trade talks, which he sees as vital to promote growth. In one sign of
progress, the top U.S. and European Union trade negotiators on Tuesday said they had made progress toward a
common agenda for a new trade round. "Global prosperity also depends on the world's economic powers keeping
our economic houses in order," Bush said on Tuesday. "We all must pursue pro-growth policies that encourage
greater productivity, reduce tax burdens, while maintaining fiscal responsibility and stable prices."
Bush took a swipe at the anti-globalization protesters converging on Genoa, arguing that "those who protest free
trade are no friends of the poor. Those who protest free trade seek to deny them their best hope for escaping
poverty." After Genoa, Bush will travel to Rome, where he will meet Pope John Paul for talks expected to touch on
the controversial issue of whether the United States should permit the use of federal funds for embryonic stem-cell
research. Advocates believe research with embryonic stem cells, the early master cells formed soon after a human
egg is fertilized, could lead to medical advances. Opponents, including the Catholic Church, condemn research that
destroys human embryos.
Bush ends his trip with a fleeting visit with U.S. troops in Kosovo, the formerly Serb-ruled province that triggered an
11-week NATO bombing campaign against Yugoslavia to stop repression of its ethnic Albanian majority by Serb
forces. He is scheduled to return to Washington on Tuesday.
Bush heads to G8 with free trade & poor on mind
7.19.01 Reuters
LONDON … says he is ready to make his case against isolationism and for free trade to help
the world's poorest nations. … But Bush hopes to focus on the theme of the summit, poverty alleviation, and
his views on how to accomplish it. "I can't wait to make the case, along with Tony Blair, about the need for the
world to trade in freedom," Bush said at a joint news conference with the British prime minister near London on the
eve of his departure for Genoa."We value the fact that we are responsible nations and we realize there are some
less fortunate," said Bush, who will be making his case to many nations, including his own, who are fighting
economic slowdowns.
White House officials said the top priority at Friday's meeting of the Group of Seven industrialized nations, which
takes place before Russia joins them for the G8 meeting, would be to push for freer trade, including a new round of
global trade talks. "It's our belief that poverty alleviation begins, first and foremost, with dynamic, sustained
economic growth," a senior U.S. administration official said. "In effect, economic growth, global economic growth is
the ultimate poverty alleviation strategy. So the summit will begin tomorrow at a lunch with the G7 leaders at which
we'll be discussing what...each of the G7 countries can do individually and what we can do collectively to ensure
sustained global economic growth," he said.
[ Profligate consumption necessitating resource wars to fuel speculative global economy
diagnosed by gambler's tout as needing more of the same. Not a word re conservation ]
grants
Bush, who says debt relief is a short-term fix, also favors increasing grants over loans to the world's poorest
nations. The administration official said industrialized nations must first have their own economies in order.
Bush said on Thursday there was continued concern over the state of the U.S. economy, particularly as signaled by
Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan. He said at the news conference that he would cite U.S. steps to
revive the economy, such as passage of his $1.35 trillion tax cut, during the G7 summit. "We're doing everything
we can within our own borders to deal with an economic slowdown," he said. "One of the things I'll do is to share
with my colleagues the successes we've had at cutting taxes as well as holding the line on spending." …
[ Except spending on NMD, California electricity, etc. & et al, ad infinitum ]
Bush says trade protesters 'dead wrong'
7.22.01 Reuters
Genoa Pres. GWBush said Sunday anti-trade protesters such as those who disrupted G* summit w/ riots
that killed one demonstrator were "dead wrong." "People are allowed to protest, but for those who claim they're
speaking on behalf of the poor, for those who claim that shutting down trade will benefit the poor, they're dead
wrong," Bush told a joint news conference with Russian pres. Vladimir Putin. The 2 leaders met following
conclusion of G8 at which leaders agreed to support the launch of a new round of global trade negotiations.
Tens of thousands of anti-globalization protesters, kept away from the city center by barricades, demonstrated
violently over 3 days of meetings. One demonstrator was shot dead by police while storming a police jeep w/ fellow
protesters. Bush on Saturday called the death tragic, and said he also regretted injuries to police. Asked on Sunday
about the prospects for future G8 summits, in the light of the violence in Genoa, Bush said: "I look forward to future
G8 summits."
Putin told the news conference that the leaders and the protesters on the streets shared the same goals of helping
the poor. "In this sense, we can say that we're all of the same mind. But unlike those who choose these extremist
ways of expressing their minds, those who worked here tried to find solutions," he said. "I highly praise the results,
the level, nature and character of these discussions. I think we need these kinds of meetings and I think
they will … continue," he said.
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Bombs heighten tension as G8 city is sealed
7.18.01 Reuters
Genoa 2 letter bombs exploded in northern Italy Wed., heightening tension in barricaded city of
Genoa ahead of this weekend's G8 summit. Anti-globalization demonstrators, many threatening to break through
police security cordons, began pouring into the city to protest against capitalism's excesses. President Bush, target
of protesters' scorn, flew to Europe and the summit after making clear he would not back down on 2 issues at which
he is at odds with his allies, missile defense system & Kyoto global warming pact.
New U.S.-Europe clash appeared possible after Bush called for changes in the way the World Bank distributes
cash to poorer nations. The first bomb exploded at a Milan TV station controlled by Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi,
who will host the 3 day gathering of the world's most powerful men beginning Friday. It slightly injured a woman
employee and sent jitters through Genoa, a virtual ghost town following massive security operations to seal it from
expected onslaught by anti-globalization demonstrators.
cordon of steel
A second letter burst into flames when it was opened in the headquarters of the Benetton clothing firm in the
northeastern city of Treviso. No one was hurt. No direct link was immediately established between the blasts and
the summit, but they heightened tension not only in Genoa but in Rome, where G8 foreign ministers met.
They expressed deepening worry about escalating violence in the Middle East and appealed to Israelis and
Palestinians to have the courage to take effective steps toward peace. The ministers, who were also due to meet
on Thursday, aim to draw up part of the G8 summit's final declaration before heading north to Genoa.
Police in the summit city threw a cordon of steel and concrete around the heart of the Genoa, sealing off a "red
zone" that will surround the G8 venue. The long planned measure turned Genoa into a silent city of boarded-up
shops and car-free streets. More than 100,000 demonstrators protesting at the power of rich countries over the
world have vowed to besiege the annual summit of leaders from the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Italy,
Japan, Canada and Russia.
"red zone invaders"
Streams of demonstrators began pouring into the city on Wednesday. A train pulling into the central station held
hundreds of young activists chanting "Genoa, Genoa" and waving clenched fists. One group of about 25 wore T-
shirts proclaiming themselves "Red Zone Invaders," a reference to their plans to break into the security zone.
Another group, comprising Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi immigrants from Rome, arrived to join in an
immigrants' demonstration on Thursday. "We are here against the program of the G8," said Bachcu, a spokesman
for the group. "These eight countries are responsible for our economic position. Luca Casarini, leader of the hard-
line Italian protest group "Tute Bianche" (White Overalls), said in an interview with Reuters that thousands of
demonstrators would attempt to storm the summit venue on Friday.
Celebrated anti-globalization activist French farmer Jose Bove was also in Genoa. "(Bush) says that the anti-G8
demonstrators are against the poor people of the world," Bove told a news conference. "Clearly Bush is lying, just
as the other G8 leaders meeting here in Genoa lie." Genoese police seized knives, swords, fake pistols and
equipment which could have used to make a bomb from a house just 500 meters (yards) from the summit venue, a
graceful Renaissance palace wedged in among the narrow alleys of this ancient port. Police said the arsenal
included a pump device, steel balls and a box of fireworks. However, they said the man who owned the items was
a known petty criminal and ruled out any connection with the G8.
Demonstrators Warm Up for Summit
7.19.01 AP
GENOA … The leaders planned to unveil only hours after the summit begins Friday one of the
big achievements expected out of Genoa, a new global health fund to combat AIDS with an initial contribution of $1
billion from wealthy nations. The AIDS fund will be announced after an opening lunch and early afternoon session
dedicated to assessing vulnerable spots in the current global economy - …
"A strong world economy requires growth from the three largest economies in the world - the United States, Europe
and Japan,'' Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill said in a Thursday night speech in New York. "I remain optimistic that
we are going to see higher growth next year, and that, as we did in 1998, the U.S. economy will lead the world back
to the path of prosperity.'' Several of the leaders began to express impatience with the tactics of demonstrators who
have pitched battles with police at every major economic gathering since Seattle's 1999 World Trade Organization
conference. British Prime Minister Tony Blair, according to an aide, complained about "the anarchists' traveling
circus, who are there solely to cause trouble and disruption.''
President Bush, who earlier this week said that people are "just kind of sick'' of all the protesters, said Thursday at
a joint news conference with Blair that demonstrators attacking trade liberalization are "hurting poor countries.''
The demonstrations began peacefully Thursday morning with a crowd of about 1,000 mostly Iranian exiles who
staged mock stoniness and hangings to protest the government of Iran. An afternoon march followed, with 25,000
participants demonstrating support for immigrants.
Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi, this year's host, was the first on the scene, stopping for a tour of the European
Vision, the luxury liner serving as a floating hotel for all the leaders except Bush. Anxious for the summit to reflect
well on Italy, Berlusconi was deeply involved in summit preparations, even ordering a decorative screen to cover an
office building that he deemed too ugly to be seen by his fellow leaders as they arrived and departed from the more
attractive and historic Palazzo Ducale, the main site for the talks.
Thousands of police and military personnel from around Italy were brought in to guard a six-mile-long chain-link
security fence. The area around the harbor looked like a ghost town with empty shops and nearly deserted streets.
The more militant protesters, led by Italy's Tute Bianche, or the White Overalls, have vowed to breach the security
perimeter and get into the secure Red Zone. They said they would make their first attempt during Friday's opening
ceremonies.
G8 pledges decisive action for world's poor
7.22.01 Reuters
GENOA Group of Eight leaders, shaken by the ferocity of anti-capitalist violence at their annual
summit, pledged on Sunday to draw poor nations into the world economy and make globalization work. After three
days of vicious street clashes between demonstrators and police in which one activist was shot dead, the G8
promised "free and open debate" with their citizens and decisive action to combat poverty, especially in Africa. "We
are determined to make globalization work for all our citizens and especially the world's poor," said a final
statement from their summit in the Italian port of Genoa. "Drawing the poorest countries into the global economy is
the surest way to address their fundamental aspirations," the leaders of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy,
Japan, Russia and the United States said.
While agreeing that the world economy looked well placed to recover from a sharp slowdown, they failed to secure
an accord over one key issue, the environment, that could have helped to secure a landmark intl deal on
global warming. Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien said he did not expect a deal to emerge from separate
marathon negotiations in Bonn, Germany, where more than 180 countries were haggling over ways to implement
the 1997 Kyoto pact on curbing greenhouse gases. The three-day summit left the ancient port of Genoa littered
with burned-out cars, smashed windows and vandalized property.
Meeting in a Renaissance palace, the leaders were sealed off from the activists in a top-security "Red Zone,"
protected by |
The Porto Alegre contingent called for debt forgiveness for developing nations and adoption of the Tobin Tax,
tariff on cross-border financial transactions named after the Nobel laureate in economics James H. Tobin. It is designed to tame
rapid intl capital flows and protect poor nations from world market crises.
If that weren't enough to deter would-be troublemakers, security forces may have another ally, roaming wildlife.
During a recent trip to Europe, Chretien boasted to Italian journalists that the summit site is guarded "from the back
by mountains, from the front by a river, from the south by an Indian village and from the north by 500 bears." While
the PM was joking, some observers think he may have a point. "Grizzlies & moose might be a natural
deterrent," says Jon Clark, one of only a handful of Albertans who lease cabin lots in Kananaskis Country. "Maybe
that's the thing to do; put a lot of bear scat on the road to scare away intruders." 
The activists then scrambled to find a suitable site in Calgary, asking the city to let them pitch their tents in one of
the urban parks. No way, responded Calgary Mayor Dave Bronconnier. "Park space is there for the people of this
city to use & enjoy," he told Maclean's. "It's not at the behest of others who want to take it and abuse it."
The mayor's tough words reinforce Calgary's image as a law-and-order kind of town. "The 1960s are over,"
Bronconnier warns would-be protestors. "The world has changed. Calgarians won't tolerate unlawful protest. We
want to ensure the cycle of violence that has been attracted to these events of late is broken." To that end, the
Calgary police dept & other civic authorities are mapping out an elaborate security & emergency
response plan.
