G8 agrees to promote Syrian peace talks

ENNISKILLEN, Northern Ireland: World leaders including the US and Russia declared yesterday they are united in wanting a negotiated and peaceful end to the Syrian civil war that will produce a government “under a top leadership that inspires public confidence.”
The declaration at the end of the two-day Group of Eight summit sought to narrow the ground between Syria government backer Russia and Western leaders on starting peace talks in Geneva that could end with the ouster of Bashar Assad from power.
It stopped short of demanding Assad’s removal as leader, nor did it advance the possibility of sending US, British or French weapons to rebels, an option being kept open by all three G-8 members. Russia refused to back any declaration that made such Assad’s removal from power an explicit goal.
And reflecting the profound divisions that remain after two days of talks, the British host, Prime Minister David Cameron, declared in response to reporters’ questions that it was “unthinkable” that Assad could play any role in Syria’s post-talks government.
“He has blood on his hands. He has used chemical weapons,” Cameron said, a position rejected as unproven by the Russians.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said arms supplies to the Syrian opposition would destabilize the situation even further.
“Any decisions to provide the opposition with weapons based on unconfirmed accusations against Damascus of using chemical weapons will only further destabilize the situation,” Putin said at a news conference.
Significantly, the G8 declaration said participants in any peace talks must agree to expel al-Qaida-linked fighters from Syria. That measure reflects growing Western unease at the human rights abuses being committed in rebel-held areas, including civilian executions on Muslim extremist grounds.
The declaration condemned human rights abuses committed by government forces and rebels alike, and called on both sides to permit access by U.N.-led chemical weapons experts trying to investigate the contentious claims of chemical weapons use. In its only concrete commitment, the plan commits a further $ 1.5 billion in aid for Syrian refugees.
Earlier, G8 leaders announced new goals to combat tax avoidance by multinational companies. In a joint statement they said tax authorities should share information “to fight the scourge of tax evasion” and make it harder for companies to “shift their profits across borders to avoid taxes.”
But the key word in that document, often repeated, may well be “should” — because the partnership made no formal agreement on any specific reforms. The agreed aspirations will be developed at this year’s G20 summit in September.
Still, Britain heralded the agreement as a good first step toward creating a new environment of corporate transparency. A key principle in the plan would require multinationals to declare how much tax they pay in each country.
The G8 is made up of Britain, the US, Germany, Russia, France, Italy, Canada and Japan. The group’s tax initiative reflects widespread anger over the ability of foreign companies to funnel profits to tax-friendly countries.
Cameron began yesterday with what his spokesman called a “brisk” swim in the chilly waters of scenic Lough Erne, the lake beside the Northern Ireland golf resort hosting the summit, before heading in to lead the summit’s second and final day.