G8 Summit Has Few Results, But Russia Is Firmly In The Fold
Sydney Morning Herald
Wednesday July 19, 2006
"THE best thing about the St Petersburg summit is that it's over," said a statement from Greenpeace.
Now that the leaders of the Atlantic and European powers have flown home, there is likely to be a collective sigh of relief. Many will conclude the G8 party was a costly PR exercise that merely papered over the cracks dividing Russia and the West. Certainly the hosts spared no expense in entertaining the politicians in the Konstantin Palace, the press corps in an ultra-modern communications pavilion and the anti-globalism movement out of harm's way, in tents in a sports stadium. The same amount was spent to upgrade St Petersburg's Pulkovo Airport as went on airports for the whole country in the last budget. President Vladimir Putin even provided golf carts for his guests, although he could not control the torrential rain. It is also true that the summit, being hosted for the first time by Russia, was short on concrete achievements. The leaders of Russia, the US, Canada, Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Japan expressed a common desire for world peace but could only agree to disagree over how to deal with the Middle East, Iran and North Korea. European leaders went away disappointed that Russia was clinging to monopolistic practices in the energy sphere. And Putin had to swallow a setback in Russia's long campaign to join the World Trade Organisation. The only agreement was a deal between Russia and the US to co-operate to prevent nuclear terrorism and to run international uranium enrichment centres, the first of which will open in Siberia. Fine words and few results then, it could be argued. And yet the intangible may turn out to be the most important. In the months before the summit, a war of words had been escalating that prompted some commentators to speak of the danger of a new Cold War between Russia and the West. Compared with their 2004 meeting in Bratislava, when President George Bush and Putin bristled in each other's company, the atmosphere in St Petersburg was friendly. After St Petersburg, nobody will argue that Russia should be cast out of the G8. In future, the arguments are likely to be about the nature of the club itself and whether membership should be extended. On the last day, Putin introduced guests from China, India, Brazil, Mexico and South Africa, which may make the original founders think about the purpose of the grouping in the 21st century. After a last photo opportunity, they went their separate ways. No doubt some were relieved that the burden of political socialising was over. But the mere fact that the summit took place in Russia was a healthy development. Mood is something that cannot be touched but in relationships, it can make all the difference.
© 2006 Sydney Morning Herald