The eighth G20 summit, which has the mandate to address world economic issues, turned out to be a bitterly divided political meeting discussing the fate of Syria.

Leaders of 19 rich countries and the European Union met in St. Petersburg from September 5-6. Russia hosted the summit for the first time, since it was formed in 1999. The summit came in the wake of US threats of military action on Syria, after Israeli intelligence revealed that Syrian government had used chemical weapons last month on civilians near Damascus, killing more than 1300 people.

G20 countries account for 90% of global GDP, 80% of international global-trade and two-third of world population. The objectives of the group are: to achieve global economic stability through sustainable growth; promoting financial regulations that prevent financial crisis and modernise international financial architecture. The Presidency of the group rotates annually among the members. President Vladimir Putin will hold G20 Presidency until November 2014, when the ninth summit is held in Brisbane, Australia.

The two-day meeting ended with a Declaration dwelling on economic issues that face the rich and the developing nations. The leaders emphasised that global economic recovery was too weak and could slowdown. Some emerging markets showed worrying signs of weakness. President Putin warned that the "risks are still very, very large" for the fragile recovery. The 114-paragraph Declaration divided into 8 sections highlighted tax avoidance, quality jobs for growth, enhancing multilateral trade, need to enhance investment, cut down budget deficits, pursuing the fight against climate change, and intensifying the fight against corruption. Summit documents are actually produced by officials in series of meetings held before the summit.

Official sessions of the summit discussed the agenda dealing with economic issues, though all the leaders were preoccupied with the question of Syria using chemical weapons against its people.

Having failed to get a British resolution approved by the UN Security Council, President Obama on 31 August stated in Washington that he had decided to launch an attack on Syria. Obama has asked for Congressional approval. President Putin, a staunch ally of President Bashar AI Assad, is stiffly opposed to any military action against Syria without the sanction of the United Nations. Syria consistently

denied any use of chemical weapons. Russia said that it would support UN action if it was proved beyond doubt that Syria indeed used chemical weapons. The issue has triggered bitter debates in US.

The diametrically opposed position of Washington and Moscow has caused worries around the world and thus Syria, the non-agenda item, became top priority for discussion among the summit leaders. The issue - whether US should launch an attack on Syria — was discussed at the 4-hour long

official dinner on September 5, without any consensus emerging.

President Obama also had sideline meetings with other leaders trying to persuade them to support US action on Syria. France, Canada, Turkey and Saudi Arabia apparently supported President Obama. Britain could not go along with Obama after the British parliament defeated David Cameron's motion for military action. Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany wanted UN approval for any action on Syria, cautious because she faces federal elections on September 22.

Despite tensions, Obama met with Putin on the sidelines of the summit, but neither could change the mind of the other. To recall that a Putin-Obama bilateral summit was scheduled forSeptember4 in Moscow, but that was cancelled by Washington after Russia granted asylum to Edward Snowden, the American who leaked NSA secrets to the media.

China backs Russia and has vetoed the British resolution. China also warned that action against Syria would drive up oil prices and slow down economic growth. President Obama's meeting with PresidentXi Jinping touched briefly the Syrian issue.

The Summit was an opportunity for President Obama to personally talk to all the UNSC P-5 leaders at the highest level. The President failed to carry the P-

5 and other leaders who were attending the meeting. Clearly, majority of the summit leaders, worried that war in Middle East will have grave consequences on world economy, were against Obama's position.

One wonders why Obama wants to attack Syria. He has neither UNSC sanction nor the approval from the Congress yet. Congress is not aware of the goals of the military action -- regime change or "punish" Assad, or install al-Qaeda rebels in power in Damascus. Indications are that Congress may not give Obama the go ahead. Americans are worried that an attack on Syria will lead to wider conflagration in the region involving Iran and Israel, requiring US soldiers on the ground. Opinion polls show that people in America, weary of wars, are vehemently opposed to a new war. The UN weapons inspectors have not yet submitted their report on alleged Syrian atrocities. Obama Administration said it had all the proof, but so far, has not yet revealed the evidence. Sadly, President Obama is divorced from US public opinion.

There is a nagging feeling that Israel may have manipulated the chemical weapons story and wants US intervention in Syria. That could eventually be directed against Iran, Israel's arch enemy.

For President Obama, it appears to be a moral issue. After having laid down the famous "red line", against use of chemical weapons — he cannot "do nothing" now. Obama apparently, wants to cleanse his conscience by taking some military action against Syria.

The Geneva Protocol (1925) bans the use on Chemical Weapons, but does not ask for military action against nations using them. It would be a legal matter if a nation violates the Protocol, and only the United Nations can take appropriate action against errant nations, not any particular country.

The Summit ended firmly divided over what to do with Syria. There is no mention of Syria in the Final documents of the Summit.

After winding up George Bush's messy war in Iraq, setting a date for withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan and pulling out the US economy from depression - Nobel Peace Laureate Obama has put his credibility on the line unnecessarily. Obama will do good to shun prejudice and chauvinism and look for a negotiated settlement of the Syrian crisis.

Normally, for US presidents the second term at the White House is a period for foreign policy accomplishments. After this messy Syrian episode the next three years will no doubt define Obama's Presidency.

The writer is former Ambassador and Secretary.