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Saturday, June 26, 2010
G8 leaders condemn North Korea, Iran
June 26, 2010
USA TODAY
The world's major powers sent stern messages to Iran and North Korea Saturday, remained firm on Afghanistan and encouraged continued steps toward Middle East peace.
Hopscotching around the world in the form of a communique issued af the end of the G8 summit in Muskoka, Canada, the leaders condemned North Korea's recent attack on a South Korean warship that killed 46 sailors. Japan and Russia expressed some reluctance but went along with the wording.
"We condemn ... the attack which led to the sinking of the Cheonan. We demand that the Democratic Peoples' Republic of Korea refrain from committing any attacks or threatening hostilities against the Republic of Korea," the leaders said.
In another sign of support for South Korea, President Obama planned to announce a new initiative to complete the long-stalled Korean-U.S. Free Trade Agreement. Obama has asked U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk to start new talks to resolve outstanding issues, while seeking to level the playing field for U.S. producers.
The goal: completing talks by the time Obama visits Seoul in November for the next G20 meeting, and submitting the trade deal to Congress shortly thereafter.
Obama was to meet with South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak later Saturday.
The G8 leaders also expressed concern about Iran's lack of transparency on its nuclear program and support for the recent United Nations Security Council sanctions. At the same time, it held out an olive branch to Tehran should it abandon its nuclear ambitions.
"Our goal is to persuade Iran's leaders to engage in a transparent dialogue about its nuclear activities and to meet Iran's international obligations," the document stated.
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