G20 leaders Approve Most Issues on Agenda – Merkel

Angela Merkel and Donald Trump

Berlin, 14 Shawwal 1438/9 July 2017 (MINA) – German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Saturday leaders of the G20 countries approved a final communique including most of the issues discussed during their summit, which began in Hamburg Friday.

Merkel, acknowledging differences at a news conference following the summit, said “it is true there are still difficulties hampering an agreement on free trade issue, but we achieved good results in other issues.

“We realized that we can achieve our objectives collectively, and it is better than working unilaterally,” KUNA quted Merkel as saying in an apparent rejection to unilateral solution of international problems.

Merkel welcomed the commitment of the G20 leaders on the free trade criteria. “I am happy with what we have accomplished, and it is an affirmation on necessity of keeping global markets open, which means fighting economic isolationism and illegitimate trade methods.”

The G20, with exception of the US President Donald Trump, reiterated commitment to the 2015 Paris agreement on climate change, she said.

Trump, in an announcement following the G7 summit in Italy last May, said the US would withdraw from the Paris agreement.

Merkel ruled out the US return to the agreement, and said she did not agree with British Prime Minister Theresa May’s optimism that Washington would return to the climate change deal.

“Regarding the climate agreement, we are certain that there cannot be an agreement with the Americans,” said the German leader.

The G20 summit took place as demonstrators and riots occured against globalization and capitalism. “Jeopardizing lives of police and citizens and the looting are unacceptable,” underlined Merkel.

She said the German government would be compensating owners of shops that were destroyed and looted last night.

Merkel said the next G20 summit would be held next year in Argentina, while Japan would host the 2019 meeting and Saudi Arabia in 2020.

Countries attending the Hamburg summit were Germany, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, China, France, Britain, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Canada, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, the US and the EU.

International organizations took part as well: the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank, the Organization of Security and Cooperation in Europe, the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the UN. (T/RS5/RS1)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)