What is the G8 Foreign Ministers' Meeting?
Foreign and Finance Ministers have always played a key role in the G7/G8: first at the Summit site itself,
and, since the Birmingham Summit (1998), in the weeks and months before the Summit. Other ministers
meet as required. Since 1998, foreign and finance ministers have developed their own agenda and
followed up on their commitments. A meeting of the G8 Foreign Ministers is held twice a year, in the
weeks prior to the G8 Leaders' Summit and on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly in
the fall. Both the timing of the meetings and the agenda are usually determined by the host, in
consultation with G8 partners.
G8 Foreign Ministers deal specifically with foreign and security policy
issues. In Berlin in 1999, G8 Foreign Ministers played a central role in
stopping the war in Kosovo by negotiating a resolution of the UN
Security Council. In 2000, at Miyazaki, ministers committed to action in
five areas of conflict prevention: small arms and light weapons; illicit
trade in diamonds; conflict and development; children in armed
conflicts; and civilian police. The 2001 Foreign Ministers' Meeting was
convened by then-Italian Foreign Minister, Renato Ruggiero, in Rome. The
main topics on the agenda were global issues, including conflict
prevention, non-proliferation, arms control, disarmament (NACD), and
terrorism, as well as key issues in the Middle East, the Balkans,
Africa, Afghanistan and Korea. Citizen engagement in the G8 was also
discussed. A ministerial communiqué was forwarded to the Prime Minister
of Italy as Chair of the Leaders' Summit in July in Genoa. Foreign
Ministers also issued a Statement on the Middle East.
This year's G8 Foreign Ministers' Meeting will be hosted by the Canadian
Foreign Affairs Minister, Bill Graham, in Whistler, British Columbia, on
June 12 and 13. The meeting will follow the streamlined approach of the
Kananaskis Summit: a policy retreat with fewer officials; and a short
Chair's Statement instead of a negotiated communiqué. Counterterrorism
and post-Taliban Afghanistan will be central components of the 2002 G8
Foreign Ministers' agenda.
On counterterrorism, foreign ministers will work on the implementation
of specific measures following up on the G8 Leaders' Statement of
September 19, 2001, asking foreign and other relevant ministers "to draw
up a list of specific measures to enhance counterterrorism cooperation."
These measures will support and complement UN Security Council
Resolution 1373; coordinate G8 technical assistance to help other
countries to meet these UN counterterrorism obligations; and prevent the
terrorist threat related to weapons of mass destruction and the use of
chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear agents.
Post-Taliban Afghanistan and the development of the Afghan security sector will factor heavily in
discussions. A G8 Foreign Ministers' statement was issued on this late last year, welcoming the
convening of the Bonn meeting of Afghan representatives.
Foreign Ministers will also discuss NACD issues (in particular plutonium
dispositioning, building on commitments from Rome), conflict prevention,
and regional crises in the Middle East, India/Pakistan, the Balkans and
possibly elsewhere. On conflict prevention, foreign ministers in Rome
made commitments to work on conflict, water and disarmament,
demobilization and reintegration of combatants. Work on these issues
will be wrapped up this year.
For more information on past Foreign Ministers' Meetings and their outcomes, please see the links
section of this Web site.
2002 G8 Foreign Ministers' Meeting Quick Facts
The meeting will take place in Whistler, British Columbia, on June 12 and 13.
This year's G8 Foreign Ministers' Meeting will follow the streamlined approach of the Kananaskis
Summit: a policy retreat with fewer officials; and a short Chair's Statement instead of a negotiated
communiqué.
Counterterrorism and post-Taliban Afghanistan will be central components of the 2002 G8 Foreign
Ministers' agenda. Foreign ministers will also discuss non-proliferation, arms control and disarmament
issues, (in particular plutonium dispositioning), conflict prevention, and regional crises in the Middle
East, India/Pakistan, the Balkans and possibly elsewhere.
FAQs
Where will G8 Foreign Ministers meet?
When will G8 Foreign Ministers meet?
What is the purpose of the G8 Foreign Ministers' Meeting?
Ministers have always played a key role in the G7/G8: at the
Summit site itself and, since the Birmingham Summit (1998), in the weeks
and months before the Summit.
The Foreign Ministers' process supports the efforts of the
Summit. As political and security issues have grown on the G8 agenda,
foreign ministers have developed their own agenda and follow-up on their
commitments. More information on the G8 Foreign Ministers' Meeting can be
found under What is the G8 Foreign Ministers' Meeting?
What will the agenda for the G8 Foreign Ministers' Meeting be?
Counterterrorism and post-Taliban Afghanistan will be central
components of the 2002 G8 Foreign Ministers' agenda. Foreign ministers
will also discuss non-proliferation, arms control and disarmament issues
(in particular plutonium dispositioning), conflict prevention, and
regional crises in the Middle East, Indian/Pakistan, the Balkans and
possibly elsewhere.
Links
Previous G8 Summit Sites
Genoa (includes link to Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Rome)
Kyushu/Okinawa Summit
Other related Web sites
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
G8 Summit
G7 Finance Ministers' Meeting
G8 Environment Ministers' Meeting
University of Toronto G8 Information Centre
University of Calgary: Office for University G8 Activities
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