2009 G8 Summit: Website On Line
The official 2009 G8 website goes on line with the opening of the Italian Presidency year. Taking over the chair of the summit brings Italy responsibility for hosting and organising the meetings preparatory to July’s Summit on La Maddalena, during which the Heads of State and government of the countries taking part will be meeting prior to signing the Final Declarations. As President, the Italian Government also holds responsibility for speaking on behalf of the G8 and holding talks with the countries not taking part, the international organisations and civil society, and for monitoring developments following the pledges given at the July Summit until the end of the year.
Everyone who wishes to follow the course of the G8 chaired by Italy will find on the pages of this site documents and information on the activities of the Italian Presidency and its features, commencing with descriptions of the host country, the Summit sites, and the venues for the meetings that will precede July’s Summit on the island of La Maddalena, a tiny spot that is gearing up to play host to the world. The area provided for the media will gradually be filled out with content and reports directed in particular at the news media, whereas “Towards the G8” section will report over the coming months on the preparatory work and stages, from the ministerial meetings to the definition of the topics on the agenda.
Italy is taking on this responsibility in a crucial year. A year in which governments worldwide are having to grapple with the new challenges. Challenges posed by the global crisis and its repercussions on the hopes and futures of the peoples of the earth. This element of gravity and urgency has induced the Italian Government to present the Summit’s preparatory process and its very agenda as a call sent out to the G8 countries and extended to the countries emerging as economic powers and to those involved in other international forums.
In addition to the economic issues, the G8 is committed this year to continuing talks on numerous topics, including energy, security and in particular the climate. The agenda that the Italian Government is handling gives special prominence to dialogue with the African countries with a view to overcoming the numerous problems still encountered in many areas of the continent, such as food safety, access to drinking water and health and education system inadequacy.
