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India included in G-8's 'enlarged dialogue'

By Amit Baruah

NEW DELHI MAY 8. An "enlarged dialogue'' between the G-8 and 12 developing countries on questions of globalisation and international governance will take place a day before the formal G-8 meeting scheduled for June 1-3 in Evian, France. The dialogue is a personal initiative of the French President, Jacques Chirac. Invitations have been sent to China, India, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Mexico, South Africa, Algeria, Egypt, Nigeria, Senegal and Morocco. Other than the G-8 nations, Greece (which currently holds the EU Presidency) and Switzerland will be present.

This "enlarged dialogue'' is being described as an informal and ad hoc meeting and does not constitute a precedent for consultation with the G-8 and will not be institutionalised. Nor will there be a "final statement'' at the end of the deliberations. In order to maintain the informal nature, France has strictly restricted the number of countries that have been invited, based on the composition of international groups.

Since G-8 meetings have attracted massive protests from anti-globalisation groups, the tendency has been to take these meetings away from big cities, in order to limit the protests. By inviting members of the developing world, an impression is being conveyed that the "exclusive club'' does take into account the views of other, "less privileged" nations. As has been made clear, this is not going to be an annual event, but the nations invited are major players and is a sign that they count for something in the developing world at least. Also, the projection of dialogue with "others'' could make the G-8, it may be hoped, less of a target this time round. In a sense, the leaders of the "developing 12'' would convey a sense of wider consultation.

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