CALGARY (voa) – President Bush is at a secluded Canadian resort for the two-day annual summit of the world’s seven leading industrialized nations and Russia. Starting Wednesday, the G-8 leaders gathered at the Kananaskis Rocky Mountain resort west of Calgary will discuss such crucial issues as terrorism, the Middle East, and poverty in Africa.
Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien, the summit host, picked the spot to discourage protesters.
Mr. Bush held a bilateral meeting late Tuesday with Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. Neither spoke to reporters after the talks. But after a separate meeting with Prime Minister Chretien, Mr. Bush repeated his view that Israel has the right to defend itself against Palestinian terrorism.
Prime Minister Chretien said he also believes Israel must be secure, but had no comment on Mr. Bush’s call for new Palestinian leadership as a way to open a path to peace. Mr. Bush’s Mideast proposals are likely to be debated at the summit. Some French, German, and Italian newspapers have already given the idea a negative response, while a leading London newspaper backs Mr. Bush.
Western European leaders are expected to push for an international Mideast peace conference. President Bush has endorsed the idea, but has declined to set a date for the conference.
Mr. Bush also said in a statement Tuesday he will discuss ways to ensure the world takes more legal measures against terrorism. He is calling for wholehearted support for U.N. Security Council resolutions prohibiting countries from offering safe havens and other support to terrorists.
The G-8 summit is generally held to address the world economy. A plan for economic aid and investment in Africa is part of this year’s agenda, as are discussions on trends in Asian, European, and U.S. economies.
The leaders also plan to endorse a set of new security guidelines for air and sea transport in the wake of the September 11th terrorist attacks. The Group of Eight countries are Britain, Canada, France, Germany Italy, Japan, the United States, and Russia.
