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G8 to rebut critics of globalisation

Clinton pledges to reduce US ‘footprint ’ on Okinawa
NAGO. Okinawa. July 21: The world's wealthiest nations opened their annual economic summit today in hopes of rebutting critics of globalisation and shrinking the gap between rich and poor, reports AP
Leaders of the seven largest industrial nations — the United States. Japan. Germany. France. Britain, Italy and Canada — held a series of one-on-one talks before launching formal discussions later in the day at a new conference centre here that boasts a magnificent ocean view.
The first session was devoted to a review of global economic conditions, where the leaders had a lot to be pleased about — the 1997-98 Aslan currency crisis that threatened to topple the
entire globe into recession is receding and. with the notable exception of Japan, many of the hardest-hit countries are staging strong recoveries this year.
But. as usual, foreign policy issues were high on the agenda, even during the economic discussions. US President Bill Clinton’s efforts to broker a Middle East peace agreement were noted by French President Jacques Chirac who praised the American president for his courage and determination" in launching the Camp David negotiations. French officials told reporters.
Before joining the wealthy nations at dinner to night to make the summit a full Group of Eight meeting. Russian President Vladimir Putin was meet-
ing with Clinton.
Putin was expected to lodge Russia's strong objections to a missile defense system the United States is considering. To bolster his case. Putin made stops in China and North Korea on his way here to nick up support from the leaders of those countries.
France and Germany also have opposed the defense system. Today, German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder said. "I’m skeptical about It." Speaking to reporters travelling with him, Schroeder stressed that America can do what it believes Is in Its national interest, but said it should discuss the issue with NATO and Russia.
At a news conference. Chirac said creation of a missile shield
could start another arms race.
"It would be ver>' expensive and technically difficult, but that's America's problem." Chirac said. "It's of a nature to retrigger a proliferation of weapons, notably nuclear missiles and the weapons that carry them."
This year's summit agenda has been designed to rebut protesters who took to the streets in Seattle. Washington, last December, and in Washington in April, to coinplain that globalisation — the Increased flow of trade and Investment between nations — helps rich countries but harms thr poorest ones.
Clinton, however, had another kind of complaint to ad-chess. The anger of Okinawans unhappy about America's huge military' presence here. Upon his arrival today. Clinton delivered a speech to the people of Okinawa, and promised to reduce our footprint on this island' by completing a 27-sfep process of consolidating IS bases on the island.
'We take seriously our responsibility to be good neighbours. and it is unacceptable to the United States when we do not meet that responsibility.' Clinton said
A small group of demonstrators shouted 'Get rid of the bases! while Clinton visited the Cornerstone of Peace . memorial. The day before, demonstrators formed a human chain around a major US air base mi the island.
The memorial, similar to the Vietnam memorial in Washington, bears the names ol 237.318 people — soldiers and i iviliaus on noth sides - who died during the battle for Okinawa. one ol the fiercest of Woi Id War II.
Clinton came here from nine days of tense negotiations over the Middle East at the Camp David presidential retreat in Maryland, and aides suggested that he might cut his stay short to hurry back to the jx-ace talks.