G8 Foreign Ministers' Meeting (Summary)

16 November 2001

The G8 Foreign Ministers' Meeting was held in New York on 11 November. Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan Toshiyuki Takano attended in place of the Foreign Minister. Other representatives were: Foreign Minister Renato Ruggiero of the Republic of Italy (Chair), Secretary of State Collin Powell of the United States of America, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Jack Straw of the United Kingdom, Minister for Foreign Affairs Hubert Vedrine of the French Republic, Minister for Foreign Affairs Joschka Fischer of the Republic of Germany, Minister for Foreign Affairs Igor Ivanov of the Russian Federation, Minister for Foreign Affairs John Mauley of Canada, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Louis Michel of the Kingdom of Belgium (European Union [EU] Presidency holder), European Commissioner Sir Christopher Patten, High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy Dr. Javier Solana of the EU. The following is an outline of the meeting.

1. International Counter-Terrorist Measures

The G8 Foreign Ministers reconfirmed the commitment expressed in the G8 Leaders' Statement on Counter-terrorism issued on 19 September. They agreed to have G8 experts continue their work on concrete counter-terrorism measures, and to aim for a G8 Action Plan on Counter-terrorism, to be issued by the Leaders soon.

2. The Situation in Afghanistan

With developments such as the fall of Mazar-e-Sharif there was a common recognition that the situation, including military operations by the United States and other countries, was moving in the right direction. With the approach of winter and the first falls of snow, the G8 Foreign Ministers agreed that there was an urgent need for humanitarian assistance, and that it was necessary to ensure safety on the ground.

To realize peace and stability in Afghanistan, the G8 Foreign Ministers agreed on the importance of maintaining close consultation among G8 member countries as well as supporting the activities of the United Nations (UN) and the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for Afghanistan, Dr. Lakhdar Brahimi.

In addition, Japan stated that its government was currently examining how the international community should further cooperate, taking into account the need for emergency humanitarian aid and medium- to long-term assistance for the reconstruction of Afghanistan being implemented in a similar manner. Japan also pointed out that it is important to ensure that various elements within in the international community be represented in the process toward the peace and stability of Afghanistan.

3. The Middle East peace process

The G8 Foreign Ministers confirmed the urgent necessity to intensify efforts toward dialogue between Israel and Palestinian Authority.

4. Macedonia

The G8 Foreign Ministers reaffirmed their view that it is important for the parliamentary process of constitutional revision in Macedonia to move ahead.

5. Next Year's G8 Summit

Canada, which will hold the G8 presidency next year, stated that it was preparing with a view to making the summit meeting in Kannaskis as informal as possible, in order to ensure a close and frank discussion among G8 leaders.