G-8 seeks nuke-free world, rebukes N. Korea, sets global warming goal+

L'AQUILA, Italy, July 9 Kyodo - Leaders of the Group of Eight industrial powers meeting in Italy on Wednesday called for a world free of nuclear weapons and condemned North Korea for its nuclear and missile programs, while criticizing Iran for its crackdown on
post-election protesters.

On the opening day of their three-day annual summit, the leaders from Britain,
Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and the United States agreed to a
long-term goal of an 80 percent cut in greenhouse gas emissions by developed
countries, while warning their economies still face risks despite emerging
bright signs.
In a set of G-8 statements on security issues, the group said it is committed
to seeking ''a safer world for all'' and to creating ''the conditions for a
world without nuclear weapons,'' welcoming Monday's agreement in Moscow between
U.S. President Barack Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev to reduce the
number of their countries' strategic nuclear warheads.
The G-8 countries ''condemn in the strongest terms'' North Korea for its May 25
nuclear test, as well as its April 5 rocket launch, and ''deplore
post-electoral violence, which led to the loss of lives of Iranian civilians,''
they said, referring to the unrest in Iran following the disputed June 12
presidential election. The leaders also condemned Pyongyang's launching of
ballistic missiles on Saturday.
By setting a global warming target of its own, the G-8 is apparently seeking to
show its commitment to the fight against the increasing global threat so as to
lead stymied talks with emerging nations such as China and India in the run-up
to a key U.N. climate change conference in Copenhagen in December.
But Japanese officials stressed the G-8 goal for 2050 has to come with the
condition that all countries, including emerging economies, aim to halve
emissions within the same time frame, a goal already agreed on in last year's
summit in Japan.
A declaration the G-8 issued said the countries ''support a goal of developed
countries reducing emissions of greenhouse gases in aggregate by 80 percent or
more by 2050 compared to 1990 or more recent years.''
It reiterates the G-8's ''willingness to share with all countries the goal of
achieving at least a 50 percent reduction of global emissions by 2050.''
The G-8 leaders, gathering in the central Italian city of L'Aquila, also
indicated they recognize ''the broad scientific view that the increase in
global average temperature above pre-industrial levels ought not to exceed 2
C.''
But Japanese government sources have said members of a separate multilateral
forum on climate change, to be held on the sidelines of the G-8 summit
Thursday, remain divided over the emissions reduction targets, with China and
other emerging economies demanding that the industrial powers do more to fight
global warming.
An earlier draft for the 17-member Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate,
which accounts for about 80 percent of the world's overall emissions, called
for a 50 percent global reduction by 2050 and an 80 percent cut by developed
countries.
But it is unlikely that these specific targets will be stated in the MEF
declaration or that the members will be able to lay the groundwork for shaping
a new international framework to succeed the 1997 Kyoto Protocol before the
Copenhagen conference.
In the area of development, the G-8 said it is aware that Africa has taken the
brunt of the worldwide recession and confirmed its commitment to aid to the
continent.
Earlier Wednesday, the G-8 leaders agreed there were some ''signs of
stabilization'' in the global economy, but ''significant risks remain to
economic and financial stability,'' underscoring that it is important to remain
vigilant about any rise in unemployment and implement steps to improve labor
conditions.
They agreed it is necessary that strategies be created to find a way out of
massive fiscal stimulus packages, which they have implemented to deal with the
economic crisis, once their recovery is assured.
The G-8 also shared concerns over growing protectionism and agreed to aim for
the early completion of the stalled Doha Round of trade liberalization talks,
launched in 2001, under the World Trade Organization.
According to the officials, Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso told his fellow
leaders at the meeting that the G-8 needs to rectify the financial imbalance
for sustainable economic growth.
The G-8 summit has been positioned as the halfway point between the Group of 20
financial summit held in London in April and the next G-20 meeting scheduled
for September in Pittsburgh.
The leaders met on their own the first day, but the meetings will be expanded
to include the Group of Five emerging economies -- Brazil, China, India, Mexico
and South Africa -- plus Egypt on Thursday, as well as African nations on the
final day.
==Kyodo