Egypt declines G8 summit invite

[NewGuy]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3743711.stm

Egypt has declined an invitation to a meeting of the Group of Eight industrialised nations in the US.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher said President Hosni Mubarak had "other commitments".

The meeting is expected to discuss Washington's proposals for democratic reform in the Arab world, known as the Greater Middle East initiative.

The initiative, the US says, intends to counter Islamic militancy with political, social and economic change.

But it has been criticised by many Arab governments for seeking to impose reform from outside.

Some Arab governments have said the plan also fails to address key regional issues such as the Arab-Israeli conflict.

Mubarak proposals rejected

The Group of Eight is made up of the leading industrialised nations - Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and the United States.

The summit is scheduled for 10 June in the southern US state of Georgia.

Cairo's refusal follows the close of an Arab League summit on Sunday which rejected Mr Mubarak's proposals for a unified Arab stance on the issue of reform.

Arab leaders also voted against creating a reform liaison and monitoring body in line with Washington's initiative.

The 22 Arab League members pledged to promote democracy, expand popular participation in politics and public affairs, reinforce women's rights and expand civil society.

The meeting was though marred by the non-attendance of several leaders and a walkout by Libya's Colonel Muammar Gaddafi.

 

[dmp]

You'd think if G8 invited anyone, gop_jeff would know about it.

He's literally the 'backbone' of the G8.

 

[5stringJeff]

Originally posted by -=d=-
You'd think if G8 invited anyone, gop_jeff would know about it.

He's literally the 'backbone' of the G8.

Well maybe not the backbone... but maybe the sternum.

 

[DKSuddeth]

Originally posted by gop_jeff
Well maybe not the backbone... but maybe the sternum.

I would have said gall bladder, but sternum works

 

[5stringJeff]

Originally posted by DKSuddeth
I would have said gall bladder, but sternum works

If anything, I'm the endorphin-producing gland of this place! Whatever it is that you call that gland...