A summit stock-take
- 9 Jul 08, 11:13 AM
Wouldn't it have been easier to pick up the phone? It certainly would have been cheaper than the multimillion-pound jamboree that this gathering of the world's leaders of the world's eight richest countries has become.
On the other hand, at the end of his first summit, Gordon Brown believes it's been worthwhile. He's been in his element here, plotting the small steps necessary to reach the major deals that he hopes will be reached in the future.
In truth, on each of the areas that he's highlighted, the deals have yet to be done. On Zimbabwe, the G8 did agree to take tougher measures, but overnight the Russians are sounding deeply sceptical about the sanction proposals that Britain and America have tabled at the UN in New York.
On trade, the prime minister talks of us being a "minute from midnight", and a greater hope for a deal than there has been before, but the deal will be done, not in Japan, but, if it's ever done, in Geneva in 12 days time.
On climate change, the G8 talked of a new vision but it is a new American president, and the leaders of the emerging economies like China and India, who will decide whether a deal is in fact done in 2009.
And even on development aid, where the prime minister deserves some credit for stopping other countries from watering down their promises, many countries have yet, of course, to deliver their old ones.
Real business was done at the G8 and indeed at what were effectively two other summits, with the developing economies and with the African nations. There's no doubt some progress was made at this G8 summit but the real test of it will come in negotiations yet to be held.
