Arab Spring overshadows G8 meeting, Russia defers on Syria

Washington, D.C., United States (AHN) – The United States put up a brave face on Friday in Washington as Russian delegation rejected U.N. intervention in Syria but Moscow agreed that time for Libyan leader Colonel Moammer Gaddafi was up.

Addressing journalists in Washington, Mark Toner, the U.S. State Department spokesman said, “In terms of the Security Council, I mean, obviously, we’ve been in discussions with our partners there about the most appropriate approach to condemning the ongoing violence in Syria.”

“We support pursuing a Security Council resolution. But beyond that, I don’t have any comment,” added Toner during the daily briefing at the State Department.

Pressed further about the Russian position of no-action on Syria, Toner, said, “We feel that the international community is increasingly concerned by the ongoing violence in Syria. We’re working through a variety of forums to apply pressure on the Asad regime and we’re going to continue to do that.”

Earlier, Russians had minced no words as Sergei Ryabkov, Russian deputy foreign minister told journalists, “We will not even read the text,” adding, “There are no grounds to consider this issue (of Syria) in the U.N. security council.”

On Libya, however, there was unanimous agreement that the Libyan leader had lost all legitimacy and had to go as the G8 communique, said, “Gaddafi and the Libyan government have failed to fulfil their responsibility to protect the Libyan population and have lost all legitimacy. He has no future in a free, democratic Libya. He must go.”

The ongoing democratic winds of change with Arab Spring got applauded not only with words but also with financial support as the world’s industrialized nations promised $20 billion over the next two years in the form of loans and financial aid to Tunisia, the flag bearers of change and Egypt with the mandatory condition for the duo to continue on the road to develop democratic institutions and implementing democracy.

Europeans lead the way with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) announcing the expansion of its mandate to cover North Africa and the Middle East. The EBRD is set to invest billions in coming years to help the democratic process and help the economies to improve the conditions of populations in those countries.

The G8 communique also commented on the global economy saying, “The world economy is recovering,” but reiterated need for more action to reduce global imbalances and deficits.

View full post on All Stories