CAMP DAVID, Md. – Leaders of the Group of Eight countries were set to focus on the European financial crisis Saturday at this storied presidential retreat during what’s been dubbed the Camp David summit.
President Barack Obama is hosting Prime Minister Stephen Harper and the leaders of Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and Russia.
They’re gathered at this remote, leafy compound, tucked away in the Blue Ridge Mountains far from the reach of protesters who have so famously disrupted past meetings.
The European financial plight and the future of Afghanistan will dominate their working sessions. The leaders will gather around tables not much larger than poker tables to encourage full and frank discussions.
Harper, one of the longest-serving leaders at the summit, arrived on a wave of good news. A new report ranks Canada first when it comes to G8 countries fulfilling pledges made at international summits.
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At a two-hour dinner Friday night to kick off the summit, the leaders discussed Iran, Syria, North Korea and the importance of including women in the political process.
Food security in Africa and energy and climate issues will also be on Saturday’s agenda.
Obama welcomed three fresh faces to the G8. France, Italy and Japan all have new heads of state.
Harper and French President Francois Hollande had a bilateral meeting early Saturday, getting acquainted as they touched on common concerns.
Canada and the European Union are working toward a free-trade agreement.
After the working sessions wrap up late Saturday afternoon, some of the leaders, including Harper and Obama, jet off to Chicago for meetings of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
In contrast to the peace and serenity of isolated Camp David, where small numbers of protesters gathered several kilometres away in Thurmont, Md., thousands of demonstrators are expected to greet them in the so-called Windy City.
At both the G8 and NATO summits, Afghanistan’s economic future and security will be a key topic of discussion.
The U.S. doesn’t want to be entirely on the hook for the estimated $4.1 billion that will cost to sustain Afghan security forces when international troops withdraw at the end of 2014.
Australia, Britain and Germany have already contributed funds but Canadian officials wouldn’t say in advance of the G8 summit whether Ottawa plans to pony up too.
In what has been widely viewed as a snub, Russian President Vladimir Putin is skipping the summit, sending Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev in his place.
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