At the Sea Island Summit, a Sea Change in U.S. Diplomacy

[UpInArms]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A32614-2004Jun10.html

SAVANNAH, Ga., June 10 -- The Bush administration has suddenly discovered diplomacy.

After three years of criticizing President Bush for taking a unilateralist approach to foreign policy -- a charge Bush officials maintained was unfair -- foreign officials attending the Group of Eight summit that concluded Thursday said they noticed a distinct shift in the administration's tone and attitude. Suddenly, officials said, the Americans were more willing to listen, more eager to resolve differences and more interested in finding a pragmatic solution.

<snip>

Other officials attending the summit did not go that far. But even French President Jacques Chirac, who clashed with Bush at the summit over NATO's role in Iraq, said he had noticed a difference during the negotiations at the United Nations over the Security Council resolution recognizing the interim Iraqi government. He praised the "great openness of mind that was displayed by the diplomats for the United States."

<snip>

Tensions still were visible, especially over Iraq and Bush's democracy push in the Middle East. But given the battles of the past three years, the mood here appeared less confrontational than when President Bill Clinton hosted the G-8 summit in Denver seven years ago. Then, the U.S. economy was riding high and European and Japanese officials chafed at what they considered Clinton's excessive boosterism for the "American model."

...more...

This article just pissed me off - so I went to see what I could find about the Colorado Summit.

Here's some:

http://www.g8.fr/evian/english/navigation/g8_documents/archives_from_previous_summits/denver_summit_-_1997/communique.html

excerpt:

13. We discussed the progress that has been made since the 1992 Rio Earth Summit in defining and promoting sustainable development, and we commit ourselves to taking action in areas critical to advancing this agenda. Sustainable development demands the full integration of environment, economic and social policies; should be based upon democratic governance and respect for human rights; and should have poverty eradication as one of its ultimate objectives. In this connection, we reaffirm the vital contribution of civil society. We urge the United Nations General Assembly, at its Special Session to be held next week, to reaffirm and give impetus to the Rio commitments, to take stock of implementation since Rio, and, most importantly, to develop a manageable list of priority issues to address in future work on sustainable development.

Climate Change

14. Overwhelming scientific evidence links the build-up of greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere to changes in the global climate system. If current trends continue into the next century, unacceptable impacts on human health and the global environment are likely. Reversing these trends will require a sustained global effort over several decades, with the involvement of all our citizens, and changes in our patterns of consumption and production.

15. We are determined to take the lead and show seriousness of purpose in strengthening international efforts to confront climate change. Our ultimate goal must be to stabilize atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gasses at an acceptable level. This will require efficient and cost-effective policies and measures sufficient to lead to a significant reduction in emissions.

16. International cooperation will be essential. At the Third Conference of Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in Kyoto we must forge a strong agreement that is consistent with the Berlin Mandate and that contains quantified and legally-binding emission targets. We intend to commit to meaningful, realistic and equitable targets that will result in reductions of greenhouse gas emissions by 201 0. The agreement must ensure transparency and accountability and allow Participants flexibility in the manner in which they meet their targets.

and

75. We have worked together to advance our common non-proliferation, arms control, and disarmament goals. The Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty is an historic milestone, and we call upon all States to sign and ratify it rapidly to ensure its early entry into force. We welcome the entry into force of the Chemical Weapons Convention. We advocate its full, effective and universal implementation, and look forward to the early ratification of the Convention by the States that have not yet done so. Recognizing that enhancing confidence in compliance would reinforce the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention, we reaffirm our determination to complete as soon as possible through negotiation a legally-binding and effective verification mechanism.

...and so very much more...

I found no ink wasted anywhere on "Clinton's excessive boosterism" and believe the writer of the article to have some nasty piece of plastic occupying the space where a normal person's brain would reside.

[Dover]

1. Key Mideast nations skip U.S. lunch during G-8 on democracy.

France, U.S. at odds over NATO role in Iraq

Glenn Kessler and Dana Milbank, Washington Post
June 10, 2004 SUMMIT0610



SAVANNAH, GA. -- France and the United States clashed anew over Iraq on Wednesday, jarring the Group of Eight summit that the Bush administration had hoped would bury the diplomatic battles of the past.

Just hours after President Bush expressed hope that NATO could play an expanded role in providing security for Iraq, French President Jacques Chirac emphatically rejected the idea. "I do not think that it is NATO's job to intervene in Iraq," Chirac told reporters in a videoconference from Sea Island, the private resort where the leaders have gathered. He added that he had "strong reservations on this initiative."

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a guest at the summit, later echoed Chirac's concern. Asked whether NATO, of which Turkey is a member, should have a role in Iraq, Erdogan said: "The concept we've been emphasizing is the role of the United Nations."

The dispute hinted at the tensions simmering beneath the surface of the summit....

snip
Bush hosted a lunch for G-8 leaders and the leaders of seven Mideast countries -- Jordan, Yemen, Bahrain, Turkey, Algeria, Afghanistan and Iraq -- to highlight the administration's plans to spread democracy through the region.

The formal text of the plan, released Wednesday, said the G-8 would create a forum for discussions on reform with business and civil society leaders in the region, among other initiatives. Leaders of key countries such as Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Tunisia and Morocco, however, spurned Bush's luncheon invitation....

http://www.startribune.com/stories/1762/4821212.html

[teryang]

2. What a bunch of crap

Bush can't negotiate his way out of a paper bag. The only reason for the fascists new conciliatory attitude is that one more "bush is an asshole" report from another world leader will send him down for the count. Why this community of appeasers to fascism let him off the hook in the UN is beyond me. They had him on the ropes.

[JM]

3. That change in tone and attitude...

...is based on the desire to get reselected. Everyone, administration and neocons included, knows Bush* doesn't have a leg to stand on in foreign affairs...

JM