Schisms Emerge at Petersburg Summit

[CHIMO]

STRELNA, Leningrad Region -- Statements signed Sunday by Group of Eight leaders broke with decades of tradition by acknowledging deep-rooted divisions -- over President Vladimir Putin's key issue of energy security, among others -- in the consensus-driven group.

One major point of contention in the area of energy security has been Russia's refusal to ratify the Energy Charter Treaty, which governs energy investment and transit issues in Europe, Russia and other countries.

Europeans have pressed hard at previous G8 meetings this year for Russia to ratify the treaty, but the energy security statement Sunday was limited to a vague affirmation of the document's free-market principles.

"Clear, stable and predictable national regulatory frameworks significantly contribute to global energy security, and multilateral arrangements can further enhance these frameworks," the statement said. "We support the principles of the Energy Charter and the efforts of participating countries to improve international energy cooperation."

http://www.themoscowtimes.com/stories/2006/07/17/003.html



http://www.themoscowtimes.com/indexes/01.html

Wonder if some are playing "follow the leader".

[Dover]

1. Reporters Jailed After Covering Demonstrations

Monday, July 17, 2006. Page 3.

Reporters Jailed After Covering Demonstrations

Reuters
ST PETERSBURG -- Two reporters for a German university radio station were jailed after covering protests leading up to the G8 summit, the station said Friday.

On Saturday evening, the two photojournalists for Radio Hertz 87.9, Eike Korfhage and Henning Wallerius, were released.

Korfhage and Wallerius were arrested last weekend at an apartment where they were staying. They were sentenced Tuesday.

Police initially accused them of participating in anti-G8 protests ahead of the summit, but they were eventually convicted of urinating in public, charges the two men deny, the station said.

cont'd

http://www.themoscowtimes.com/stories/2006/07/17/012.html