newsitems G20 Host Finance Minister Lagarde to EuroFora: 1st Act v. Oil+Food Crisis eyes special Global deal
G20 Host Finance Minister Lagarde to EuroFora: 1st Act v. Oil+Food Crisis eyes special Global deal
*Paris/G-20 Finance/Bercy/Angelo Marcopolo/- The 1st G-20 Financial Summit to include Raw Materials' and mainly Oil and Food's prices' volatility, the "1st Risk" against "Recovery" of World's Economy, according to the 3 sets of Prorities outlined by President Sarkozy, which marked the beginning of the 2011 French G-8 and G-20 Presidency (See "EuroFora"s earlier NewsReports), did succeed to start building Worldwide concensus on the urgent need to face that issue, particularly when Popular Riots against Hunger and Oppression are currently spreading around many, mainly Mediterranean and Middle East Countries, but it also realized that the Heart of the matter lies elsewhere, i.e. in the Production itself of Agricultural and other Raw Materials, needing, therefore, a special treatment going further beyond, repl ied in substance G-20 Financial 2011 Host, French Finance Minister, Christine Lagarde, to "EuroFora"s questions.
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According to the Official Communiqué published at the Conclusion of the G-20 Meeting of Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors in Paris, at the spectacular architecture of "quai Bercy"'s building accross the Seine River, after practically 3 Days of on the spot preparation already since the 17 - 18 - 19 February 2011, the participants from 25 Countries around the World, and Heads of relevant International Organizations (such as IMF, World Bank, UNO, OECD, EU, etc), "discussed Concerns about consequences of potentially Excessive Commodity Price Volatiity". In this field, G-20 decided to "work with International Organizations and to report back .. on the underlying Drivers, and the the Challenges posed by these trends, for both Consumers and Producers, and consider possible Actions".
Speaking 1st "on Food Security" in particular, and considering "the Impact" that this might have, (particularly at a moment while multiply mixing revendications for Democracy and against Hunger), G-20 stressed "the Need for Long-term Investment in the Agricultural sector", mainly "in developing countries". Moreover, G 20 Finance decided to "discuss at (its) Next Meeting the Report of IEF, IEA, OPEC and IOSCO on Price Reporting Agencies, as wel as the Interim Report on Food Security, currently being undertaken by the relevant International Organizations, and IOSCO Recomendations, and the FSB's consideraion of Next Steps on Regulation and Supervision of Commodity Derivatives' Markets, notably to strengthen Transparency and address Market Abuses".
Receiving also an "Interim Report by IEF, IEA and OPEC on how to "improve the Quality, Timeliness and Reliability" of the of "International Data" on "Oil", calling" for furtherwork on Strategies to implement these Recommendations", and "to improve the Producer - Consumer Dialogue", the G-20 urged IMF, IEF, IEA, GGECF and OPEC "to develop, by October 2011, concrete Recommendations on how to extend the G-20's work on Oil Price Volatility, also to Gas and Coal".
Lagarde confirmed that Concusions were naturally result of a "Compromise", after a "frank" discussion, but with "respect" of each other, and finaly conergence was found to advance forward, while in the G20 never anyone points the finger at any other country, it's not correct,as she diplomatically said
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=> Thus, "EuroFora" asked the Host of G-20 Finance Summit, French Minister of Economy, Christine Lagarde, during her concluding Press Conference, to be more precise, and make it clear whether : - "On Raw Materials, do you consider that the result that you succceeded to bring, as a 1st Positif Step, or as a Conclusion ?",
+ "And, concretely, concerning f.ex. the Agricultural Products, - which, according to FAO, (cited by EU Parliament's Resolution adopted Thursday in Strasbourg : See earlier "EuroFora"s NewsReport) recently reached an Historic Record, going Higher than ever since they started to be registered-, could be tackled efficiently with such kind of Measures, so that they might prevent the sudden eruption of Extreme Cases (f.ex. Food Crisis, Food Riots, etc) in the Future ?", "EuroFora" asked Lagarde.
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Christine Lagarde made it clear that - "It's not a Conclusion, but I think that's a Success, because it wasn't at all obvious that the issue of the excessive volatility of Raw Materials' Prices, mainy of Agricultural products, is of the competence of Ministers of Finance".
- "But we (G 20) concluded that, at the 1st hand, it has extremely Important Macro-Financial impact, and that, second, a Financial Expertise was needed, in order to appreciate the role played, namely, of the Derivative products on the Raw Materials, and on the Prices of the Physical Products", she explained in reply to "EuroFora"s question.
- "And I remind you that we have validated the establishment of a Working Group, under the auspices of Japan's Bank's vice-Governor, who is really an eminent personality, in order to have an accurate Analysis concerning the role of Speculation vis a vis the simple Law of Offer and Demand", Lagarde pointed out.
- "But, we all observed, nevertheless, that the phenomenon of Rarity, mainly on the Food area, needed Developments on the Production field", she observed, highlighting a New Horizon.
- "However, there, we sort out of our domains, (because) it's not for the Ministers of Finance to deal with such questions, which belong to the competence of Ministers of Agriculture, which is absolutely Legitimated, (particularly) in the current context", she concluded, obviously referring to the Democracy and Hunger Riots spreading accross several Mediterranean and Middle East Countries...
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+ Meanwhile, USA Secretary of the Treasury, Timothy Geithner, speaking at another Press Conference at Bercy to Journalists, including "EuroFora", acknowledged, namely, that "Rising Commodity Prices - including for Food and Oil - are causing Hardship in many parts of the World".
- "The IMF estimates that Commodity Prices increased 20 to 30 % in 2010", and "this has a Serious Impact on Inflation and on the Living Standards of the Lowest income Groups ...., where Food and Fuel tend to comprise a larger part of consumption", Geithner observed.
But, the US Official, adopting a stance somewhat closer to Brazil, eportedly opposed to any Regulation of Agricultural Products' markets, focused, at the 1st place, into stressing that "an effective response requires increasing Long-term Investments in Agriculture", particularly "in low-income Countries". This could be attained "through Mechanisms such as the Gobal Agriculture and Food Security Program", whichg is "designed to raise Agricultural Productivity and improve Rural Infrastructure to help Famers connect to Markets", according to Geithner.
However, he didn't explain how it might be possible for such "Low income Countries", as he said, to compete in the Markets with the huge, modern Agricultural Machine f.ex. of the USA themselves, attracting so big investments that it can easily produce at lower costs. Nor how Investors, in general, could Planify their projects accros Time periods, if persists the current extreme Volatility of Prices, which mark big, unpredictable Changes, (f.ex. after some "Extreme Weather Phenomena", as EU Parliament's relevant Resolution denounced this same week in Strasbourg : See "EuroFora"s earier NewsReport).
At any case, Geithner agreed, at least, that "We (USA) also support Measures to limit the potential for Market Abuse and Price Manipulation, through increased Transparency and OverSight of Commodity Markets, and the associated Derivatives' Markets. And these Pressures on Global Commodity Prices will be reduced, as the rapidy growing Emerging Economies act to tighten policy", he hoped.
But, despite differencies, in these and/or other issues, however, a striking point of convergence is that all those involved (from Brazil up to France and the US, etc) reportedly acknowledged, in one way or another, that the real problems about Agricultural and other raw materias concern their "Production" itself, in one way or another, (Comp. supra). Therefore, a special G-20 dimension, focusing on Ministers of Agricuture and so on, has, indeed, become necessary, as Lagarde concluded in her reply to "EuroFora"s questions (See supra).
However, EU Parliament's latest Resolution on Food Prices' Rise, adopted earlier this week in Strasbourg, pinpointed also the fact that morst of recent Food Crisis; had been provoked or seriousy aggravated by "Extreme Weather Events", (See earlier "EuroFora's NewsReports), as, f.ex. in the case of Wheat prices' inflation after the Record Heatwave which targetted Cental Russia in 2010.
+ Moreover, Oil Prices were often seriously aggravated, mostly after Wars a.o. Foreign Relations' incidents and sudden rises of tension.
Therefore, it's obvious that, when it comes to Raw Materials' Prices' Volatility, the real Causes may also belong to the Security/Defense (1st example) and/or to the Foreign Relations' (2nd exampe) areas, so that their resolution would concern much more the common Foreign and Security/Defence Policy (CFSP)...
It's, f.ex., an unforgettable fact that, at the very moment that a controversial, too expensive Pipeline was ready, waitining to be inaugurated and broker uncertain concluding deals at Ceyhun (Turkey, close to Syria's borders), suddenly, various provocations pushed at a Syro-Lebanese v. Israeli deadly clash at their own Borders, which gave an immediate pretext for Prices of Oil barill to jump up at unexpected Heights, so that the previously excessively Costly pipeline, all out of a sudden, .. mutated into an acceptable business deal, by a coincidence, exactly when this was needed ! Moreover, it's well known that the most famous War in Ancient History, that of Troie, described by Omer's poems, was, in fact, due, less into the Mass-Mediatic "romantic", cover-up Story of Queen Helen, etc., but much more to the Real-Politics' fact that a growing Ancient Greek World needed Free Access to nowadays' Ukraine-Russia-Kazakhstan's Wheat producing areas, while Troians wanted to keep the exclusive Control of the Dardanelles' straights.
Thereby, Lagarde's Opening towards a larger Horizon (See supra), in probable confluence, in substance, with most G-20 Gobal Players, at least on this point, clearly pointed at a Direction which seems, indeed, to be, in this crucial and topical issue, the Heart of the Matter ..
... inevitably reminding the Famous "Atom Heart Mother" Music Album, whose original cover topically pictures, simply, ..a Cow in a Green Field, even if it was composed by a former Scientist in Physics : "Pink Floyd"s Synthetic , sophisticated Music might, indeed, be an interesting symbol, perhaps inspiring Politicians to search and find the right "Synthesis" able to saveguard Global Economy's Recovery from Risks of Raw Materials' Price volatility, including Metals and Oil, but mainly Food, at the Crossroads of various but converging Policies (Comp. supra), which obviously need (after being adequately prepared by specialized Ministers) a Heads of State and Government Political impulse, which can only be given thanks to an Overall view that allow Summits as, f.ex. G-20's November 2011 concluding Summit at Cannes.
***
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Benedict's "Source" to revitalize Europe : - "The World needs Hope", Pope says, calling to relaunch E.U. via Human Rights !
Paris - Lourdes - Strasbourg : 12 - 17 September 2008.
The vital need to re-launch Europe can be succesfully met by defending fundamental Human Rights of the People, said Pope Benedict XVI in his 1st speech in France, at his meeting with President Nicolas Sarkozy, who currently chairs the EU.
Sarkozy replied by welcoming Christian and other religions' contribution to indispensable Public Debates on crucial issues which affect Human Dignity, Europe, even Humankind, as BioGenetics.
- "When Europeans will see and personally experience that the inalienable Rights of the Human Person .., those of their free Education, their Family life, their Work, ..their Religious Rights, ..are respected and promoted, then, these Europeans will fully understand the greatness of the European construction and will be actively involved in it", Benedict XVI stressed.
- "It's important that during France's EU Presidency, there is, indeed, a desire for the Church to contribute to protect Human Person's integrity, and I think that there is also a growing Conscience, beyond any polemics, to defend Human Rights, and, thus, contribute to ensure respect for Human Dignity", added to "EuroFora" the Pope's Spokesman, Vatican's Press Director Federico Lombardi.
- "Nobody really told us here that Lisbon Treaty was good for this or that reason to the People. They only told us that we "had" to ratify it, and tried to scare us, but failed", said 2 Irish pilgrims to "EuroFora", after 2 Majority Abstentions in 1999 and 2004 EU Elections and 3 "NO" to Referenda in France and the Netherlands in 2005, followed by the Irish "No" in 2008, during a Decade of EU Crisis since the controversial Turkey EU- bid (1999-2008).
More than .."224 cases of Murders, Torture, "Disappearancies" or Destructions" by "agents of Turkish Security forces", where all those responsible for so heavy Crimes still remain scandalously unpunished, despite regular condemnations of Ankara by Strasbourg''s European Court of Human Rights from 1996 to 2008, were examined the same week by CoE's Ministers, who decided to launch a fresh call "urging" the Turkish Authorities to end this dangerous "virtual Impunity" of criminals, without comparison to European countries.
- "Why not Ukraine, instead of Turkey ?", asked EuroFora a Journalist from "Kiev : the city where it's enough to cross the streets in order to realize that it's a European town", as Sarkozy recently said, before solemnly declaring this week, together with Ukranian President Jushenko and EU Commission's chair Baroso, EU's "recognition that Ukraine is a fully European Country, linked to Europe by culture and History".
Europe's "Christian roots" and Values, with "openess and mutual respect" to other cultures and beliefs, were highlighted by Sarkozy in harmony with Benedict XVI.
The Human person should be protected "from his inception until his natural death", added the Pope, faithful to BioEthic principles defended by his predecessor and collaborator, John Paul II, of topical importance in France, Europe and the World today, as Sarkozy announced :
- "Fast and important progres in Genetic Science and procreation raise delicate BioEthical Questions to our Democracies", which "involve our view of Humans and Life, and can lead to Social Mutations. That's why they cannot remain only a business of experts", hestressed.
- "It's Politician's responsibility to set a proper framework for such Public Debates", as "France will do on BioEthics in 2009". "Religious and Philosophic traditions must take part, with their ideas and centuries' long experience : A positive Laicity is an open invitation to Dialogue", he said.
- "France engaged in Europe at another Debate on how to make Financial Capitalism more moral", and the "Social doctrine of the Church fits well what is at stake in modern Globalized Economy"
- "But, a "Real Dialogue is not for an elite of a Globalized world : It penetrates deep into the People : That's why Churches should actively participate : .. It's bringing New Oxygen to Public Debates", stressed Sarkozy.
- "Democracy must not be cut off Reason", which is "compatible with Faith", thanks to "the meeting between Christianism and Greek philosophy ", he added, referring to Pope's views. "It means to advance with logic arguments, search what's best and respect common principles of thinking :... It's an everyday need for Public Administration and the Political Debate", he added.
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Pope Benedict's 1st visit to France looked like the start of a brillant, manifold demonstration that this was well-founded and could become true in the lives of the People : After its Theoretical foundations unfolded at a "speech to the world of Culture", inaugurating Bernadins' cultural centre, and its dogmatic instrument shaped at an address to the Clergy in the Historic Notre Dame' Cathedral, he started to resolutely reach out to the People :
The move went upwards like Bach's music : Begining with a call to more than fifteen thousand enthousiastic Youngsters gathered at Notre Dame's parvis with overnight celebrations, it gained strength in an impressive open-air Mass at Paris'central Invalides'area facing Alexander III's bridge, attended by more than 150.000 people, French Prime Minister Fillon, many Ministers, Foreign Ambassadors, etc, and culminated in a series of pan-European Mega-meetings at Lourdes 150th anniversary, together with all French Bishops, EU Commission's vice-Chairman Barrot, and some 200.000 enthousiastic People from all over Europe and beyond : After a Sea of Lights astonishingly braved Saturday Night's rain, an open-air mass at riverside fields among Pyrenees' Mountains Sunday Morning, was followed on Monday by a Sea of "Compassion" to those facing Health or Life threats, surrounded by an endless gathering of People, whose gigantic dimensions obviously surprised the organisers..
Meanwhile, Benedict had the occasion to speak to the French Priests at Notre Dame of Paris, and with the Bishops at Lourdes, where they prepare a crucial November plenary meeting, due to take important decisions on imminent EU debates and choices about Europe's identity, BioEthics, etc.
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- "A new way of thinking about Laicity has become necessary", agreed the Pope with President Sarkozy at Elysee. While keeping the "distinction between Politics and Religion, to guarantee Citizens' Liberty", "religion is important for shaping Consciousness and contributing, together with others, to create a basic Ethical Consensus in society".
- "Searching Essential realities", (as "God" for christians), needs "Speech : "Logos" in greek, i.e. Reason", "able to shape a Community","with creative work transforming Human History". But "Dialogue" is instrumental for "Reason", because it's the way to "search" for Truth", in "Liberty", according to Greek Platonic Philosophy, with Socrates' dialectics. "Reason" implies "Spirit and Liberty", hence the polyphonic "Music" of "Dialogue", in a responsible, "well balanced" way, to avoid "destruction".
Starting with a "Dialogue between christians and intellectual or artistic movements" highlighted at Bernardins' Cultural Center. with former Presidents Chirac and Giscard d'Estain, UNESCO's chair Anastassopoulos, etc., as well as representatives of Muslim Communities, (including a separate Turkish), after contacts with Jews at Vatican's Embassy, the Pope turned towards the People :
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To French Priests : "Church built on the rock" !
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- Speaking to thousands of French Priests at Notre Dame's Cathedral, Benedict highlighted a solid "Church built on the Rock" of conscious and active persons, transmitting "a lively, energetic and sharp" "God's Speech, actively working on Human History".
"Praying together" with "representatives of Christian Churches and ecclesiastic communities", (as Orthodoxes, Armenians, Protestants, etc), he called "to reinforce the Unity of the church", against "any form of Division", around Holy Spirit', "the Word","Christ's Justice", and "Love" to fellow- humans : Essentials which "resume all holy scripts", as he said.
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To Young People : "New Horizons"
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To some 15.000 enthousiastic Young People at Notre Dame's parvis, along Seine's river, Benedict spoke about "the Energy of the Holy Spirit" and "the Mystery of the Cross" : - "The Holy Spirit opens New Horizons to Human Intelligence .. and makes it conscious of the real greatness of Christ's sacrifice, dying and resurecting for World's life".
Some "may slander you as crazy, laugh at you, or even persecute you. But, "the Holy Cross is a symbol of God's love", and "givesmoral strength" : "Witness of People's pains, it's at the same time, a precious, unique expression of their Hopes", he told them at Paris' dawn.
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Invalides' plateau : "People chosen to become God's friends"
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At the 1st open-air Mass in Paris' center area of Invalides, facing the Grand Palais, along the river Seine, during an impressive gathering of more than 150.000, French Prime Minister Fillon, Ministers Alliot-Marie, Bachelot, Dati, Jouyet, Assembly's President Accoyer, Senate's Chair Poncelet, former 1st Lady Bernadette Chirac, former Prime Minister Raffarin, many foreign Ambassadors, and other political personalities were present. (While earlier, from the Socialist opposition, Paris' Mayor Delanoye, artist Robert Hussein a.o. assisted at the Elysee meeting).
But the "Entry Song" focused on the "People chosen to become God's Friends". The September 11 mass was Dedicated to "Saint Chrysostomus, that great priest of Constantinople", with his "wonderful eloquence and great courage to face challenges", who "made out of despaired and godless people, a people of brothers", opening a possibility to "become all one complete entity", as Pope Benedict reminded.
- "Reason never enters in real contradiction with Faith", stressed Pope Benedict, who prepared his speeches for France during a short Summer rest at Brixen/Bressanone's Seminar, whose Library honors both "Faith and Science".. - "We must use not only our Reason, but also our Faith" : "Get away from Idolatry", "cupidity", "avidity for money, power or even knowledge deviating from essential aims", and other "falses appearances". and "build your Home on the Rock", "with the force that Holy Spirit gives to those who let it act in them", he said to the People of Paris.
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Benedict at Lourdes : - "Become Light (even) in the Dark !"
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- "Our World needs Hope", stressed Pope Benedict, addressing an impressive TorchLight procession at Lourdes' sanctuaries, where a Sea of Lights held by Hundreds of Thousands of People gathered at Pyrenee's Mountains from all over Europe astonishingly kept their flames despite a heavy Rain at a windy Dark Night...
- "150 years earlier (1858 - 2008), ..here, in the cave, ... a simple young girl, Bernadette .. saw a Light". "The everyday life of her Family was, however, made of Misery, Sadness, Sickness, Misunderstandings, Rejection and Poverty... It was hard to live in Jail". Today, "we think to all Human Beings who suffer : The innocent Victims who face Violence, War, Terrorism, Hunger, Injustices, Catastrophes, Hate and Oppression, Violations of Human Dignity and of their fundamental Rights, of their Liberty to act and think. We also think to those who face Familial problems, sufferings from Unemployment, Sickness, Infirmity, Isolation, or their situation as Immigrants, without forgetting those who suffer and die for the name of Christ", he said.
- "But the Shadows of the Earth, did not hinder Sky's Light to shine : <<The Light shines in the Dark>>" ..."A Way full of Light opens in Human History even in its Darkest moments" : ..."As Night falls, Christ tels us : <<- Keep your Lamps alight !>>."Hold a Light while walking in the Night .. sums up our condition as Christians on their way : "We need light, and we are called to become Light !", Benedict stressed to People setting in motion Lights, Flags and Songs with enthousiasm.
"<<- She looked at me as a Person, who speaks to another Person>>, the poor girl had noted."Light emerges from such a Dialogue", stressed the Pope : "A small Flame called Hope, Compassion and Tenderness dwells inside those who return after being moved by Lourdes' experience". "Christ .. entrusts us with the Mission to let the Light of Charity shine : To make of our Prayers an Act of Love to our brothers and to Fraternal Charity", he concluded.
(../..)