June 4, 2004 Immediate Prime Minister Paul Martin today announced that he will attend the G8 Summit in Sea Island, Georgia, the United States, from June 8-9. "G8 cooperation, especially in partnership with developing countries, can bring tangible benefits to Canadians and to the world," said the Prime Minister. "At the Sea Island Summit, I am confidant that we will further mobilize efforts to address poverty and health pandemics in developing countries. These are key priorities for Canada and areas in which we have set an example for future G8 progress." After arriving at Sea Island on June 8, the Prime Minister will hold a number of bilateral meetings, including with Summit host President George W. Bush, and attend an informal dinner with G8 leaders. On June 9, leaders will concentrate on the state of the global economy and trade, with an emphasis on how the G8 is implementing sound macroeconomic policies and advancing structural reforms designed to promote global economic growth and financial stability. During the session, the Prime Minister will focus on how the G8 may encourage and support national policies that promote private sector-led development to help alleviate poverty in developing countries. The Prime Minister will discuss with his colleagues the work and recommendations of the Commission on the Private Sector and Development, which he co-chaired with former Mexican President Ernesto Zedillo. An outreach discussion with leaders from Algeria, Afghanistan, Bahrain, Jordan, Turkey and Yemen will focus on how the G8 can support political, economic and social progress in the broader Middle East and North Africa. G8 leaders will also examine issues related to international security, including the Global Partnership Against the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction, nuclear safety and security, and secure international travel. On June 10, leaders will take up issues related to peace support operations and sustainable development, including debt relief, fighting corruption, science and technology, Africa, famine and food insecurity, polio and HIV/AIDS. While the Prime Minister will not be present at Sea Island for this session, he will have discussed these Canadian priorities and others, such as the situation in Haiti, in his meetings over the preceding two days. The G8 is an informal group of eight developed democracies: Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The European Union also participates and is represented by the President of the European Commission and by the leader of the country that holds the presidency of the Council of the European Union at the time of the G8 Summit. For the June 2004 Sea Island Summit, this leader is the Prime Minister of Ireland. -30- PMO Press Office: (613) 957-5555
