Flags of the G-8 countries: to Brazil, the forum shouldn't matter this much
After receiving a death sentence from Brazil’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Celso Amorim, G-8 – group of the seven richest countries and Russia – is now being threatened with a proposal of a “smooth and elegant” disassemble by the Brazilian government, in this week’s G-8 summit in L’Aquila, Italy.
The Brazilian president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, will suggest the G-8 attributes be passed on to G-20, a group which involves both emerging and developed economies. Lula is going to participate in the meeting as a member of G-5 (South Africa, Brazil, India and Mexico).
“If their leaders [of G-8 countries] want to keep it [G-8], let them keep it. But to discuss economical and financial issues of the world, I think G-20 is the ideal forum”, said Lula Saturday in Paris, where he passed the weekend gathered with his family and advisors.
Aware that his theses might meet resistance with Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and other European leaders, Lula is searching for a previous association with his French counterpart, Nicolas Sarkozy. They will meet in the Élysée Palace tomorrow, when Brazilian and French newspapers will also publish an article written by both presidents defending the urgency of changes in global forums and organisms.
“Brazil and France believe G-20 has become a privileged body in a moment when we march to a multipolar world”, stated the Brazilian special advisor for Foreign Affairs, Marco Aurélio Garcia. “To some extent, G-8 has weakened because of G-20’s emergence.”
And his opinion might be supported by G-5 countries. Some members of this forum – Brazil, Russia, India and China - gathered less than a month ago in Russia for the first BRIC summit. According to Garcia, despite some “different shades”, it was possible to achieve a common ground about a new world order. Especially when it comes to G-20 being a higher instance of decision than G-8.