The G-20 countries expressed support for “any constructive initiative” for a “just and lasting peace” in Ukraine, France Press reported.
The Group of 20 major economies, which also includes Russia, announced this in a joint statement they adopted at their summit in Rio de Janeiro.
The G20 leaders also called into the Brazilian capital, where they gathered under heightened security, for a ceasefire in the Middle East conflict.
“By expressing our deep concern about the catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip and the escalation in Lebanon, we emphasize the urgent need to expand the flow of humanitarian aid and to strengthen civil defense,” the statement said.
G20 leaders have made little progress in resolving negotiations at the COP29 climate conference in Azerbaijan, where it will be necessary to decide who will pay the price for accepting climate change, AFP notes .
They also did not include in their statement the commitment to “a proper, orderly and sensible transition away from fossil fuels in energy systems”, made at last year’s edition of the conference Dubai climate (COP28).
At the same time, the leaders of the G20 agreed to the idea of cooperation for an “effective tax (tax)” for the rich – an initiative pushed by leftist Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, at his the country is turning this year, said the chairman of the group, BTA.
Lula opened the forum with a call to fight poverty and hunger and to act on climate change.
At the meeting, the differences between the Brazilian president on the left and his fellow citizen from Argentina who were nearby, Javier Millay, were revealed. The AFP reported that the relationship between Miley and Lula was terrible.
The statement of the leaders of the G20 was accepted, although the Argentine president rejected “several points” of the text, notes Agence France-Presse.
“Without prejudice to the statement of other leaders” of the group, Millay disagreed with topics such as “promoting restrictions on freedom of expression on social media” and “especially the idea that more government intervention is the way to fight against hunger,” he said. he said in an official press release from his office.
At their meeting at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Rio, the G20 leaders paid special attention to conflicts around the world and cooperation, according to Reuters. The agenda at the two-day forum reflects a shift in the world order, with leaders from the group trying to cement a multilateral consensus ahead of Donald Trump’s re-election as president. the US in January.
Host Brazil focused the G20 meeting on fighting hunger amid wars and Trump’s return to the White House, the Associated Press noted.
The DPA identified as a key point of agreement the effort to reform the UN Security Council, with the leadership declaration calling for a “more representative, inclusive, efficient, effective, democratic and accountable” council. However, like last year’s summit in India, Russia’s aggression against Ukraine was not condemned, in contrast to the strong position agreed at the Bali 2022 summit.
A strange touch from the first day of the forum was that US President Joe Biden, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni from a group photo of G20 leaders, notes AFP.
“Due to logistical problems, the photo was taken before all the leaders arrived. That’s why some of them were not present,” said a diplomat from the US delegation, without elaborating.
However, due to political tensions, the final group picture shows all 20 countries of the group of major economies going back to 2021, according to AFP.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court on charges of crimes in Ukraine, was not present at the forum in Rio de Janeiro. His country was represented by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
In more shocking comments, French President Emmanuel Macron criticized a world government that “doesn’t work” and published a communique that was read by “many people”. He proposed the creation of a high-level task force to reform work on the G20.
Chinese President Xi Jinping, for his part, warned that artificial intelligence should not be the game of “rich countries and rich people”. Also, in an apparent reference to US trade policy and Trump, Xi called for an open global economic system.
Several bilateral and multilateral meetings were also held on the sidelines of the forum, for example between the leaders of the three North American countries of the G-20 or the talks of the Chinese foreign minister individually with his Russian counterpart. and India.
What role do you think grassroots movements and public opinion can play in shaping the outcomes of G-20 discussions, especially regarding issues like climate change and economic equity?
Guest 1: Good morning, thank you for inviting me to this important interview.
Host: It’s a pleasure to have you here. Let’s begin with the first section of our discussion. The G-20 countries expressed support for any constructive initiative for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine while also calling for a ceasefire in the Middle East conflict, particularly in Gaza and Lebanon. Can you share your thoughts on the significance of this statement and its potential impact on the ongoing conflicts in these regions?
Guest 1: Well, it’s definitely a step in the right direction. The G-20 is a powerful group of countries that can influence world affairs, and their support for a peaceful resolution in Ukraine and the Middle East carries weight. However, we need to see more concrete actions being taken to back up these statements. It’s important to remember that Russia, one of the G-20 members, is actively involved in the Ukrainian conflict and has vetoed attempts by the UN Security Council to condemn its actions. While the group reaffirmed their commitment to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states, they also fell short of calling out Russia’s aggression directly.
Host: Absolutely. Moving on to our next section, the G-20 leaders made little progress in resolving negotiations at the COP29 climate conference in Azerbaijan regarding climate change. How do you assess the importance of this failure in light of the ongoing global climate crisis?
Guest 1: The failure to reach an agreement on climate change is extremely concerning. The G-20 is supposed to be a leader in addressing global challenges like climate change, yet they seem to be struggling to find common ground. The lack of agreement on a proper, orderly, and sensible transition away from fossil fuels is particularly disappointing. The world is facing a climate emergency, and the delay in addressing this issue could have severe consequences for future generations. It’s crucial that the G-20 steps up their efforts and finds a way to work together to tackle this crisis.
Host: Speaking of which, our third question relates to the concept of an ”effective tax” for the rich, which was pushed by Brazilian President Lula da Silva. Could you please elaborate on what this
