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Gurgaon News: G-8 SUMMIT
leaders pledged on Sunday to promote "open, transparent"
energy markets and to develop nuclear energy as an
alternative energy source for those who want it, they
said in a statement.
The Group of Eight countries including Russia recognised
several key ideas for the functioning of global energy
markets, including the principle that they be "open,
transparent, efficient and competitive," the leaders'
statement said.
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"Energy is
essential to improving the quality of life and opportunities
in developed and developing nations," the leaders' statement
said.
"Ensuring sufficient, reliable and environmentally
responsible supplies of energy at prices reflecting market
fundamentals is a challenge for our countries and for
manking as a whole," it added.
The G-8 leaders also expressed their support in principle
for the European Energy Charter, a framework of rules that
Russia has so far refused to sign despite increasing
admonitions to do so from the European Union.
"We support the principles of the Energy Charter and the
efforts to participating countries to improve international
energy cooperation," the leaders said.
The leaders' statement on energy was accompanied by a
detailed action plan focusing on seven main areas including
promotion of energy market transparency, stability and
predictability in energy markets and making investment
easier.
They also adopted separate declarations on several other
topics on the agenda for their summit this year including
education and infectious diseases, as well as fighting
corruption and protecting intellectual property.
The countries also acknowledged the need for the world to
diversify its sources of energy supply through greater
emphasis on renewable energies including safe nuclear power
for those countries that wish to have it.
"We recognise that G-8 members pursue different ways to
achieve energy security and climate protection goals," the
statement said. "Those of us who have or are considering
plans relating to the use and/or development of safe and
secure nuclear energy believe that its development will
contribute to global energy security," the statement said.
Most of the G-8 countries have been placing increasing
stress on development of nuclear energy as a necessary
alternative to fossil fuels, though Germany plans to phase
out nuclear power and has opposed this. The leaders also
signed off on an action plan to step up the fight against
global warming and to recognise that it was closely linked
to govern ments' energy policies. |
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