Germany: G8 special report live from the summit

Kuhlungsborn, June 6th. Rostock looked different on Tuesday; more people in the streets and the sense that everything was getting back to the usual routine. The Alternative summit has begun and at least one thousand people have come together in a Protestant Church in the city centre to listen to the opening speech given by Prof. Jean Ziegler. The general feeling is that this German Summit must be the last one. There is no reason for eight heads of state to come together and take decisions that can have a lasting impact on the world population and the well known debate over the legitimacy of the G8 was debated extensively in Italy during the Genoa Summit. The argument against the wealthiest eight nations meeting in a luxurious location is strengthened by the fact that the security machine set up to protect the leaders is costing about 100 million dollars this year; a considerable some of money that could be put to better use in developing countries.

It is Wednesday and NGOs keep up the work on the latest news and negotiations over the final communiqué. There is a lot of concern over the section on HIV as the G8 are apparently backtracking on commitments made in the past, in particular the target agreed upon in Gleneagles regarding universal access to treatment for HIV by 2010. The G8 are setting a new target of five million people for the next few years: half of what has already been agreed within a totally unreliable time framework.

The Summit began today with the arrival of official delegations who began their bilateral talks. There are at least two other important players, Bono Vox and Bob Geldof, who are holding an impressive series of meetings with G8 leaders. The two famous musicians turned professional lobbyists are making their contribution felt, Italy being one of their favourite targets at the moment given the country?s trouble when it comes to backing commitments with resources. The Italian government must be very sensitive to Bono and Geldof?s pressure and Prodi announced more resources for HIV at the conclusion of the informal meeting he had with them. The details are not yet clear but something is moving on this front at last.

Kuhlungsborn, June 5th. The opening of the G8 Summit hosted by Chancellor Merkel is just a few hours away and preparations are in full swing. The sherpas from the industrialized countries are still negotiating around the most critical issues – climate change and Africa. The latest announcements made by Bush and Merkel have triggered reactions from their fellow prime ministers as well as from NGOs. Civil society organizations are sceptical that kind words will be matched by tangible plans to deliver on their promises. The issue of a financial plan to fund the fight against HIV is a clear example. Italian NGOs met with Prime Minister Prodi yesterday and Italy will not join other G8 countries in this latest contest of new commitments. New pledges from Italy without resources to back them would expose the government as it did in the case of the resources to the Global HIV Fund still to be paid.

We got to Rostock on Sunday. The city looked like it was under siege but we didn?t witness any violence. Shops were closed and many had been nailed with wood panels. An hour later we arrived at Kuhlungsborn, the sea resort were the media centre is located. Apparently no one here is worried about the reports given by the media about the clashes between the black block and police forces, possibly because most of the population living here at the moment is made up by police and security forces.