With the world still living in the shadow of the Sept. 11, this year's Group of Eight summit meeting had its work cut out: reinforcing the ongoing campaign against terrorism. On this score, G8 leaders achieved a measure of success during two days of talks last week in the Canadian Rockies resort of Kananaskis, Alberta. They hammered out a set of proposals to remove this new threat to international security, including steps to prevent terrorists from gaining access to weapons of mass destruction.
These proposals, however, are no assurances that the world will be freed from fears of terror. Nor do they guarantee the success of multilateral efforts to eliminate the pockets of conflict and poverty in the world, including Africa and the Middle East, that seem to lie at the root of terrorism. But there is no doubt that the G8 has given a much-needed push to the war on terror.
G8 leaders adopted an action plan to prevent terrorists from hijacking commercial aircraft and ships. The Sept. 11 attacks on the United States, they said in a statement, "illustrated the critical yet fragile nature of the international transportation system." The summiteers also agreed to keep nuclear weapons and related materials, particularly those in Russia, out of the reach of terrorists.