G-8 Ministers Tout Strong Global Economy
Group of Eight Finance Ministers Say Global Economy Is Strong Despite Recent Jitters
ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (AP) -- The Group of Eight finance ministers said Saturday that global economic growth remains strong but high energy prices and global imbalances pose continuing dangers.
U.S. Treasury Secretary John Snow said the United States was upbeat on the state of the world economy.
"We see no major crises, no major economies in recession, we see strong growth and inflation well-contained," he said at a news conference. "That's a commendable set of results."
The finance ministers from the world's most industrialized nations, meeting ahead of next month's summit of G-8 leaders, said global growth "is gradually becoming more broadly based," but risks from "high and volatile energy prices and widening global imbalances" remain.
The ministers' statement did not refer to the inflationary pressures that led several central banks around the globe to raise interest rates this week but, at a news conference after the meetings, French Finance Minister Thierry Breton said that inflation was "clearly under control."
Russia, which is leading the G-8 for the first time, has been resisting European Union pressure to ratify to ratify the Energy Charter, a pact designed to provide a mechanism for crafting predictable market conditions for producers and consumers alike.
The document would require Russia to open its export pipeline network and other energy assets to foreign investors. Russian Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin reiterated Russia's call for the charter to be overhauled.
Russia's push for accession into the World Trade Organization has been stymied by disputes with the United States over financial market liberalization and other issues. But Snow said Saturday that progress had been made and the two nations could reach a deal by next month's summit.
Russia, whose export-oriented industries stand to profit handsomely from the freer access to Western markets that WTO membership would bring, has been negotiating to join the 149-member global commerce body since 1994. It has had to embark on a major set of legislative reforms to fall in line with WTO rules, including producing a new customs code.
Russia is eager to flex financial muscles that have been buffed by billions of dollars in oil money at a time of record world prices. It is the world's second largest oil exporter, after Saudi Arabia.
This week, Russia gained Australia's support for its campaign to join the WTO. It previously signed agreements with the EU, China and Japan.
The other G-8 members are Japan, Britain, Italy and Canada.
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/060610/russia_g_8_finance_meeting.html?.v=17
"The document would require Russia to open its export pipeline network and other energy assets to foreign investors. Russian Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin reiterated Russia's call for the charter to be overhauled.
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EU sesuhte si se filma deka mozhe da gi dribla Rusite kako shto ne' dribla vo Makedonija (open to foreign investors). Shto tie ne si gi otvorat svoite superzashtiteni pazari na stranska konk*rencija kako shto sugeriraat na ostatokot od svetot da gi otvora? Ili da namalea malku so drzhavno subvencioniranje na sopstvenite industrii?
Rusija sega ima povekje pari od bilo koga, delumno zaradi shpekulaciite so cenata na naftata tokmu na onie konglomerati shto EU saka da gi vovede vo igrata okolu prigrabuvanjeto na ruskite nafteni izvori i infrastruktura...
Gazprom pred par meseci sakase da ja kupi Centrica, najgolemiot distrubuter na gas vo Britanija. Se stvori takva eksplozivna polemika, imeno na Britancite ne im se prai kejfot no ako se povikuvaat na svetska trgovina i otvorenost na pazarite togas mora da pocituvaat i Rusite da im vlezat doma.
Se uste ne se pisuva dovolno, no fakt e deka Gazprom saka da investira vo Amerikanskata industrija na istocna obala. Posebno vo delovi koj sluzaat za pretvaranje na tecniot gas vo normalna, gasna sostojba. Se uste ne se znaat postrojkite koj ke sakaat da gi stavat pod svoja kontrola , no poveke od jasno e deka ke se vodi debata slicna za pristanisteto koe trebase da mu se dade na Dubai. USA e poslednata drzava sto go preci vlezot na Rusija vo WTO (ne da im treba nesto na Rusite) pa sega mozat da biraat....