PRETORIA - Leaders of the world's most powerful economies plan to discuss the global threat posed by Saddam Hussein, the Iraqi dictator, at their upcoming summit in Kananaskis, Alta., but will not allow the meeting to be hijacked by the escalating crisis in the Middle East, Jean Chrétien said yesterday.
The Prime Minister assured African leaders that the Group of Eight industrialized nations plan to keep their focus on producing an aid package for the world's poorest continent, even if the violence between Israelis and Palestinians continues without a peace deal in sight.
"You know, we don't want this meeting to be hijacked by actuality," Mr. Chrétien said after a meeting yesterday with Thabo Mbeki, the President of South Africa. "You know, we might discuss some element of actuality, [but] we will not put aside the African file because there is a problem in the Middle East. I guarantee that to you."
G-8 will leaders meet in Alberta's Kananaskis Country in late June with three main issues on their agenda: the global economy, the war against terrorism and an ambitious plan to increase investment and development in Africa.
Some African leaders have grown concerned that the raging battles being fought by Israeli troops and Palestinians will only worsen in upcoming months and force G-8 countries to re-evaluate the summit's priorities.
The Middle East crisis dominated a weekend summit in Crawford, Texas, between George W. Bush, the U.S. President, and Tony Blair, the British Prime Minister, who will both be at the Kananaskis summit.
The situation in the West Bank and Gaza is likely to be raised at the summit as part of the broader discussion on terrorism, and Mr. Chrétien admitted the leaders will also likely discuss how to handle U.S. concerns about Iraq.
"When we talk terrorism, of course perhaps the question of Saddam Hussein might be mentioned, but it will not be the main subject of the discussion," Mr. Chrétien said.
Mr. Bush has explicitly stated the U.S. administration's policy is to remove the Iraqi leader from power, though countries such as Canada and Great Britain have been less strident. Mr. Blair said over the weekend that conditions in Iraq would improve if Saddam were deposed.
In Pretoria yesterday, both Mr. Chrétien and Mr. Mbeki committed themselves to pushing the G-8's Africa Action Plan to the top of the agenda in Kananaskis.
salberts@nationalpost.com
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