This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/europe/6728303.stm
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Battles ahead as G8 summit begins | Battles ahead as G8 summit begins |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| The G8 summit has opened in Germany amid disagreement over how to tackle climate change and worsening relations between Russia and the West. | The G8 summit has opened in Germany amid disagreement over how to tackle climate change and worsening relations between Russia and the West. |
| Even before all of the leaders had arrived, the US had flatly refused to sign up to a binding deal on slashing greenhouse gases, a key summit goal. | Even before all of the leaders had arrived, the US had flatly refused to sign up to a binding deal on slashing greenhouse gases, a key summit goal. |
| And Russia threatened to target weapons at Europe if US plans for a missile defence shield should go ahead. | And Russia threatened to target weapons at Europe if US plans for a missile defence shield should go ahead. |
| Outside, police have used water cannon to try to break up anti-G8 protesters. | Outside, police have used water cannon to try to break up anti-G8 protesters. |
| Click here for a map of the area | Click here for a map of the area |
| BBC diplomatic correspondent James Robbins says meetings of the world's most powerful leaders are always difficult, but this one looks especially tough. | BBC diplomatic correspondent James Robbins says meetings of the world's most powerful leaders are always difficult, but this one looks especially tough. |
| Russia is not going to attack Europe US President George W Bush In pictures: Summit protests Russian press predict rows Q&A: US missile defence The host, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, is going to have to decide how far the most contentious issues can be pushed, operating as she is against a backdrop of increasingly fractious relations between some of the G8 members. | Russia is not going to attack Europe US President George W Bush In pictures: Summit protests Russian press predict rows Q&A: US missile defence The host, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, is going to have to decide how far the most contentious issues can be pushed, operating as she is against a backdrop of increasingly fractious relations between some of the G8 members. |
| Mrs Merkel has set what is seen as an ambitious personal goal of persuading the leading industrialised countries to commit to cutting emissions by 50% by 2050. | Mrs Merkel has set what is seen as an ambitious personal goal of persuading the leading industrialised countries to commit to cutting emissions by 50% by 2050. |
| She also wants them to increase fuel efficiency by 20% and limit the world's temperature rise to 2C. | She also wants them to increase fuel efficiency by 20% and limit the world's temperature rise to 2C. |
| Change of tone | Change of tone |
| But speaking ahead of the meeting, US President George W Bush's senior climate adviser, James Connaughton, said that although there was growing consensus on the need for action on climate change the US did not believe the G8 should be the forum for setting targets. | But speaking ahead of the meeting, US President George W Bush's senior climate adviser, James Connaughton, said that although there was growing consensus on the need for action on climate change the US did not believe the G8 should be the forum for setting targets. |
| "There is significant agreement that those should be established on a national basis, and the only area of disagreement is that the G8 should dictate the national policies of its members," he said. | "There is significant agreement that those should be established on a national basis, and the only area of disagreement is that the G8 should dictate the national policies of its members," he said. |
| Protesters succeeded in blocking all land access to the summit siteNonetheless, as he arrived for the summit in Heiligendamm, Mr Bush insisted that he still had a "strong desire" to work with Mrs Merkel on a post-Kyoto agreement plan. | Protesters succeeded in blocking all land access to the summit siteNonetheless, as he arrived for the summit in Heiligendamm, Mr Bush insisted that he still had a "strong desire" to work with Mrs Merkel on a post-Kyoto agreement plan. |
| Mr Bush adopted a similarly conciliatory tone when asked about Washington's very public row with Moscow over US plans to build missile defence facilities in two former Soviet satellites, the Czech Republic and Poland. | Mr Bush adopted a similarly conciliatory tone when asked about Washington's very public row with Moscow over US plans to build missile defence facilities in two former Soviet satellites, the Czech Republic and Poland. |
| Mr Bush dismissed Mr Putin's threat of aiming its missiles at Europe, saying: "Russia is not going to attack Europe". | Mr Bush dismissed Mr Putin's threat of aiming its missiles at Europe, saying: "Russia is not going to attack Europe". |
| "Russia is not an enemy," he said. "There needs to be no military response because we're not at war with Russia. Russia is not a threat." | "Russia is not an enemy," he said. "There needs to be no military response because we're not at war with Russia. Russia is not a threat." |
| G8 AGENDA FOR THURSDAY 0800 GMT - Session on world economy and developing economies1115 GMT - Working lunch on foreign policy issues including Middle East, Iran, Darfur and Kosovo1400 GMT - Session on climate change and energy efficiency1730 GMT - Working dinner with discussion on Doha global trade round He also sought to play down earlier criticism of Russia's record on democracy saying: "Russian society had moved a long way since the Soviet era". | G8 AGENDA FOR THURSDAY 0800 GMT - Session on world economy and developing economies1115 GMT - Working lunch on foreign policy issues including Middle East, Iran, Darfur and Kosovo1400 GMT - Session on climate change and energy efficiency1730 GMT - Working dinner with discussion on Doha global trade round He also sought to play down earlier criticism of Russia's record on democracy saying: "Russian society had moved a long way since the Soviet era". |
| But nonetheless deep divisions between Russia and the West remain, the BBC's Jonathan Beale in Heiligendamm says, the deepest of which is over the planned missile shield. | But nonetheless deep divisions between Russia and the West remain, the BBC's Jonathan Beale in Heiligendamm says, the deepest of which is over the planned missile shield. |
| Mr Bush, who is expected to meet Mr Putin on the sidelines of the summit, insists that the new system is a "purely defensive measure, aimed not at Russia but at true threats". | Mr Bush, who is expected to meet Mr Putin on the sidelines of the summit, insists that the new system is a "purely defensive measure, aimed not at Russia but at true threats". |
| However, Mr Putin has scoffed at US claims that the shield is designed to counter states such as North Korea and Iran. | However, Mr Putin has scoffed at US claims that the shield is designed to counter states such as North Korea and Iran. |
| Train blocked | Train blocked |
| UK Prime Minister Tony Blair entered the debate in a BBC interview on Wednesday, saying it was not in Russia's interest to have a "scratchy" relationship with Western countries. | UK Prime Minister Tony Blair entered the debate in a BBC interview on Wednesday, saying it was not in Russia's interest to have a "scratchy" relationship with Western countries. |
| I think behind the scenes at the G8 there will be the opportunity for people to have a frank conversation about Russia, with Russia Tony Blair Blair warning over Russia Diary: On tour with Bush Send us your comments He said that he and Mr Putin would be having "a frank conversation about the state of the relationship between not simply Britain but Europe and Russia". | I think behind the scenes at the G8 there will be the opportunity for people to have a frank conversation about Russia, with Russia Tony Blair Blair warning over Russia Diary: On tour with Bush Send us your comments He said that he and Mr Putin would be having "a frank conversation about the state of the relationship between not simply Britain but Europe and Russia". |
| Tensions are equally high outside the summit where several hundred anti-globalisation protesters defied riot police and water cannon to try to reach the security fence surrounding the summit venue. | Tensions are equally high outside the summit where several hundred anti-globalisation protesters defied riot police and water cannon to try to reach the security fence surrounding the summit venue. |
| Some blocked a railway track being used to shuttle officials to the site and nearby roads, cutting off all ground access to the summit for a short time. | Some blocked a railway track being used to shuttle officials to the site and nearby roads, cutting off all ground access to the summit for a short time. |
| Some 16,000 officers have been deployed to deal with what are currently estimated to be around 6,000 protesters. | Some 16,000 officers have been deployed to deal with what are currently estimated to be around 6,000 protesters. |
| The police are keen to avoid the disturbances seen last weekend in the city of Rostock, where protests turned violent and some 1,000 people were injured. | The police are keen to avoid the disturbances seen last weekend in the city of Rostock, where protests turned violent and some 1,000 people were injured. |
| Click to return | Click to return |