2013 G-20 Saint Petersburg summit

2013 G-20 Russia summit

Logo of the G20 Russia 2013 summit
Host country Russia
Date 5–6 September
Venue(s) Constantine Palace
Cities Saint Petersburg
Participants G-20 members
Follows Los Cabos summit, 2012
Precedes Brisbane summit, 2014
Website Russia G20

The 2013 G-20 Saint Petersburg summit was the eighth meeting of the G-20 heads of government.[1][2] The hosting venue was the Constantine Palace in Saint Petersburg, Russia, on 5–6 September 2013.[3]

Syria

The summit was dominated by questions regarding the Syrian civil war and any potential international reaction to the Ghouta chemical attacks. The summit came after U.S.-led efforts to obtain a UN Security Council resolution authorising military strikes against the Assad government had failed due to Russian and Chinese opposition. The House of Commons of the United Kingdom had defeated a motion regarding UK involvement in any strike on 30 August[4] and U.S. politicians were debating potential action as the summit was ongoing.[5]

Media billed the summit as a contest between U.S. President Barack Obama, trying to garner support for military action, and Russian President Vladimir Putin in opposition to any such action.[6] 11 countries signed a U.S.-authored statement blaming and condemning the Assad government for the attacks and calling for a "strong international response".[6]

Finance policy meetings

Russia, as this year's chair, hosted the G-20's finance ministers and central bank governors' meeting in Moscow on 15 and 16 February 2013.[7] While preparing for the September summit, the most pressing subject addressed – "desperately" according to Canadian Finance Minister Jim Flaherty – was protectionist actions such as competitive devaluations. Japan, represented by finance minister Taro Aso, "escape[d] criticism" for the 20% drop in the yen that had stemmed from its recent reflationary policies. The "nations declared ... there would be no currency war and deferred plans to set new debt-cutting targets, underlining broad concern about the fragile state of the world economy", per Reuters.[8]

Another meeting of the same participants was held in Moscow on 18 and 19 April 2013.[7]

Attendance

This meeting was the second time an Australian Prime Minister could not be in attendance, Kevin Rudd being represented by Foreign Minister Bob Carr, owing to the timing of a federal election on 7 September. In 2010, Rudd had been unable to attend when displaced as prime minister two days before the G-20 Toronto summit, at which Deputy Prime Minister Wayne Swan then represented Australia.[9][10] During the summit, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh focused on the ongoing economic crisis and urged the G-20 nations to pay more attention to their monetary policies.[11]

Participating leaders

Invited guests

References

  1. ↑ Russia will host G20 summit in 2013, at russkie-prostori.com, 6 March 2012
  2. ↑ Russia to host G20 summit in 2013, RIA Novosti,4 November 2011
  3. ↑ Saint Petersburg to hold G20 Summit of 2013, Voice of Russia, 12 April 2012
  4. ↑ "Syria crisis: Cameron loses Commons vote on Syria action". BBC. 30 August 2013. Retrieved 7 September 2013.
  5. ↑ "Obama: US cannot ignore Syria chemical weapons". BBC. Retrieved 7 September 2013.
  6. 1 2 Kendall, Bridget (7 September 2013). "Syria crisis: No clear winner in Russia-US G20 duel". BBC. Retrieved 7 September 2013.
  7. 1 2 "The G20". Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Retrieved 5 August 2013.
  8. ↑ Palmer, Randall, and Kelly, Lidia (16 February 2013) "Update 3: G20 steps back from currency brink, heat off Japan", Reuters, Retrieved 5 August 2013.
  9. ↑ Leaders arrive in Canada ahead of G8/G20 summits CTV News, 24 June 2010. Retrieved 19 August 2013
  10. ↑ Jorgensen, Hugh. If the G20 is so great, why isn't Rudd going? at Lowy Institute for International Policy, 7 August 2013. Retrieved 19 August 2013
  11. ↑ "Manmohan Singh urges G20 Nation to review their Monetary Policies". Retrieved 5 September 2013.

External links

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