G20 Summit Real Impact After American Elections

APPA NEWS, LONDON-UK 06/11/08-The G20 Summit, booked to take place in Washigton DC this 15th of November, virtually days after Obama’s landslide victory, is meant to gather the countries accountable for 90% of the world’s economy and two thirds of the world’s population.

Doubtless - and the main reason for calling a G20 Summit - the credit crunch and the financial crisis the followed prompted the Bush Administration to invite all 20 countries to Washington DC with a purpose; to discuss pressing issues.

According the the White House Press Secretary, Dana Perino, “We expect the leaders will discuss effects of the emerging economies and developing nations. The summit will also provide an important opportunity for leaders to strengthen the underpinnings of capitalism by discussing how they can enhance their commitment to open, competitive economies as well as trade and investment liberalization”.

But questions have been raised for some time, precisely because the summit is due to fall exactly 11 days after the United States presidential election and at the time of writing, it is not clear whether President elect Barack Obama will attend the summit or - as suggested by the French Government - the summit will be attended by Obama’s advisors.

Either way, i.e. with Obama’s attendance, only his advisors, both or neither, the simple fact the summit was called as an emmergency - as opposite to the usual 12 months preparation minimum - and is taking place during a transitional period in the White House, somewhat legitimates all sorts of questions as to how useful and timely this summit will be at tackling serious worldwide financial issues.

But if the few certainties about this summit are to be believed and indeed it is meant to discuss the strengthening of capitalism, global competitiveness and liberalisation, as well as tackling a global financial crisis, there are sufficient grounds to believe that the Bush Administration and President elect Barack Obama may be on a collision route in matters of economic policy, if we are to take into account Obama’s electoral campaign in its entirety, let alone an election very much focused on economical issues.

Doubtless, the White House has confirmed it will “seek input” from Barack Obama. However input seeking falls short given Bush’s evident “lame-duck” status at this stage, nor is it really appropriate to just “seek input” from a President elect who has just received a landslide mandate from the American People.

To sum it up, the G20 Summit may very well become unmissable. Whether that will be for all the good reasons or all the bad reasons, remains to be seen.

Pope Breaks Diplomatic Protocol to Bless Barack Obama

APPA NEWS, EDINBURGH-UK - The Holy See, known for its rigid diplomatic protocol, has opened an exception and protocol went straight out of the window as fast as Barack Obama was confirmed as the President elect of the United States.

The Vatican normally sends formal congratulatory blessings and felicitations messages to politicians around the world, but usually only on the day of Inauguration of Office and never before.

Obama’s historic victory however seemed to have moved the Holy See off its usual diplomatic rumblings as the Pope’s spokesman, Fr. Lombardy confirmed today a “private message” of congratulations has been sent off, signed by His Holiness, the contents of which are yet to be known in full [if ever!], but the Vatican confirmed Pope Benedict XVI sent Barack Obama His blessing of God wishing it “will support Obama and the American people so that with all people of good will, “a world of peace, solidarity and justice can be built”.

On Obama’s Inauguration Day - 20th January 2009 - a formal message will be sent, said Fr. Lombardi who took the opportunity to confirm the Holy See is keen to cooperate with the new US Administration, including sensitive issues concerning Christian communities in the Middle East, as well as other troubled areas of the world.

The Vatican approach could have not been more at odds with that of Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi,

who preferred to congratulate Barack Obama, by offering him “some good advice” on the first meeting together somewhere in the very near future. Berlusconi’s message has already sparked some “smiles” and raised eyebrows, amid public criticism of his patronising message to Barack Obama, in the light of his long lasting ally stance with George W. Bush.

John McCain Defeat Speech With Dignity

APPA NEWS, LONDON - UK - Senator John McCain admitted defeat in a dignified speech delivered before a 7000 crowd gathered in Phoenix, Arizona.

Senator McCains’ speech was highly praised for his patriotic tone, emphasizing that Americans must now turn the page, and face the future united in the need to assist the newly elected President, Barack Obama.

Admiting full responsibility for the defeat - almost certainly a hard stance, given the Republican Party heaviest defeat in 50 years - John McCain placed himself at the service of the man “who was my opponent and now will be my President”.

During the speech, the 72 year old Senator thanked wholeheartedly his running mate Sarah Palin, who he considered one of the best running mates he could ever have had, but some “boohoos” were heard among the crowd, showing the cracks that actually existed since the time of Sarah Palin’s appointment, a controversial choice by the Senator being blamed by a number of McCains supporters, for such a heavy defeat.

EU Commission President Durao Barroso Hails Barack Obama

APPA NEWS, LONDON - UK - European Union Commission President José Manuel Durão Barroso has been quick, in fact one of the very first to salute President elect of the United States of America, Barack Obama, on what is being estimated in political circles around the World, as a huge landslide victory!

According to British newswires, Mr Durão Barroso has sent messages of congratulations to the newly elected President of the United States saying that “Senator Obama will be taking office at a critical juncture. There are many pressing challenges facing the international community, including the global financial crisis and global warming.”

However politically correct, the move is nonetheless a surprising 360 degrees twist, as it is historically well known that Mr Barroso played host at the Azores Summit, which he proposed himself, to Toni Blair and President George W. Bush, days before America and

 the UK embarked on the War against Iraq.

Mr Durão Barroso, who was at the time the Portuguese Prime Minister, became the nominee of choice for the presidency of the European Commission, shortly after.

Popular memory may be short, but journalism must remain independent and recall the record of that day, 16 of March 2003, when José Manuel Durão Barroso, Toni Blair, José Maria Aznar and George W. Bush met to come up with a declarative statement on the issue of Iraq, which, we may agree, presented some Peace rhetoric, courtesy of Mr Barroso, together with enough jargon about weapons of mass destruction which never

existed, based upon intelligence, which was wrong, despite United Nations resolutions that condemned Iraq but did not convey a licence to invade or go to war and ultimately, against scores and scores in Public Opinion, strongly opposed to war in Iraq, on both sides of the Atlantic.

Doubtless, five years later, Mr Barroso is right about the new USA President elect taking office “at a critical juncture”.

We are wondering and keen to find out indeed, whose “juncture” ?… Barack Obama’s?… Or Mr Barroso’s himself?

For a full transcript of the Azores Summit, 16 March 2003, click here.