World leaders yesterday sought to present a unified position on the escalating violence in the Middle East, with the US urging Israel to show restraint.
On the first full day of a G8 summit, delegations from the world's eight major industrialized nations worked on a joint statement on the worsening situation in Lebanon, diplomats said.
The US was pressing for a summit statement identifying Hezbollah as the main culprit, said Stephen Hadley, national security adviser for US President George W. Bush.
Despite differing views of who is to blame, there was hope the leaders would emerge from the G8 summit with a consensus.
French diplomats, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to make a public statement on the issue, said the G8 countries were working on a text calling on all sides to create the conditions for a ceasefire. The main points would be the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure, avoiding pressure on fragile political systems and engaging in a de-escalation of violence.
Bush yesterday urged Israel to show restraint -- a softening of what has been strong US support of Israel's right to defend itself.
"Our message to Israel is, `look, defend yourself but as you do so be mindful of the consequences,' so we've urged restraint," he said after meeting with British Prime Minister Tony Blair on the sidelines of the summit.
He was still adamant that the blame lay with Hezbollah, however.
Leaders of the G8 nations -- the US, Russia, Japan, Germany, Britain, France, Italy and Canada -- began their formal discussions yesterday. The violence in the Middle East dominated the summit that host Russia had hoped would focus on climate change, education and the fight against infectious diseases.
Still, the eight issued joint declarations that called for bolstering energy security, fighting infectious diseases and improving education. All three statements contained sweeping generalities but few specific details on how the broad goals could be achieved.
The leaders also agreed to order their negotiators to break a deadlock in world trade talks within a month.
also see story:
Putin says gas plant deal close
NO HUMAN ERROR: After the incident, the Coast Guard Administration said it would obtain uncrewed aerial vehicles and vessels to boost its detection capacity Authorities would improve border control to prevent unlawful entry into Taiwan’s waters and safeguard national security, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said yesterday after a Chinese man reached the nation’s coast on an inflatable boat, saying he “defected to freedom.” The man was found on a rubber boat when he was about to set foot on Taiwan at the estuary of Houkeng River (後坑溪) near Taiping Borough (太平) in New Taipei City’s Linkou District (林口), authorities said. The Coast Guard Administration’s (CGA) northern branch said it received a report at 6:30am yesterday morning from the New Taipei City Fire Department about a
IN BEIJING’S FAVOR: A China Coast Guard spokesperson said that the Chinese maritime police would continue to carry out law enforcement activities in waters it claims The Philippines withdrew its coast guard vessel from a South China Sea shoal that has recently been at the center of tensions with Beijing. BRP Teresa Magbanua “was compelled to return to port” from Sabina Shoal (Xianbin Shoal, 仙濱暗沙) due to bad weather, depleted supplies and the need to evacuate personnel requiring medical care, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesman Jay Tarriela said yesterday in a post on X. The Philippine vessel “will be in tiptop shape to resume her mission” after it has been resupplied and repaired, Philippine Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, who heads the nation’s maritime council, said
REGIONAL STABILITY: Taipei thanked the Biden administration for authorizing its 16th sale of military goods and services to uphold Taiwan’s defense and safety The US Department of State has approved the sale of US$228 million of military goods and services to Taiwan, the US Department of Defense said on Monday. The state department “made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale” to the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the US for “return, repair and reshipment of spare parts and related equipment,” the defense department’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency said in a news release. Taiwan had requested the purchase of items and services which include the “return, repair and reshipment of classified and unclassified spare parts for aircraft and related equipment; US Government
More than 500 people on Saturday marched in New York in support of Taiwan’s entry to the UN, significantly more people than previous years. The march, coinciding with the ongoing 79th session of the UN General Assembly, comes close on the heels of growing international discourse regarding the meaning of UN Resolution 2758. Resolution 2758, adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1971, recognizes the People’s Republic of China (PRC) as the “only lawful representative of China.” It resulted in the Republic of China (ROC) losing its seat at the UN to the PRC. Taiwan has since been excluded from