  Junior8, G8 and G5 Family Photo
BY RAMESH JAURA
BERLIN (IDN) - They were known by the odd acronym 'O5' signifying 'Outreach 5', a weird phrase that sounded like 'Outcast 5' to many in the developing world. Strangely enough it referred to world's five emerging economies -- Brazil, China, India, Mexico, and South Africa.
The G8 had decided to initiate dialogue with them, indirectly acknowledging the Five's growing economic and political muscle in international relations. The move kicked off at the G8 summit in June 2007 was termed the Heiligendamm Dialogue Process (HDP) after the name of the venue of the gathering at the German seaside resort.
Most of the five countries joined the HDP rather reluctantly -- at least to begin with. Equally half-heartedly they accepted the decision of the group of eight countries -- Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States -- to host the dialogue process within the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in Paris.
With the exception of Mexico, whose Angel Gurría is the Secretary-General of the 30-nation mostly rich countries' group, none of the Five are members of the OECD.
Particularly Brazil and India were anxious that by working too closely within structures dominated by permanent members of the United Nations Security Council and domineering constituents of the exclusive nuclear powers' club, they might lose their credibility with the large majority of developing countries.
German diplomats who invented that peculiar acronym 'O5', topped their audacity by prematurely circulating the joint statement by the German G8 Presidency and the heads of State and/or Government of the Five.
The statement said: "We commit to embark on a high-level dialogue on specific challenges as proposed by the G8 as a follow up to continue our discussion in a more structured manner for a period of two years until the G8 Summit in 2009 (in Italy) where we will review the progress made on the following issues: Promoting cross border investment to our mutual benefit, Promoting Research and Innovation, Development, particularly Africa, and Sharing Knowledge for improving Energy Efficiency."
'HDP' , 'HAP' AND 'PARTNER'
At the L'Aquila summit July 8-10, the Heiligendamm Dialogue Process has been renamed Heiligendamm L’Aquila Process (HAP) and the acronym O5 has been replaced by G5.
The rationale was explained succinctly by OECD chief Gurría: "Closer and stronger ties between the G8 and G5 countries are critical for tackling the increasingly complex global challenges facing our countries, and never more so than in the current economic crisis."
The L'Aquila summit documents related to the HAP speak exceptionally warmly of the former O5 -- they are not only called G5 but also "G5 partner" countries.
Explaining the governance structure, the one-and-a-half page HAP agenda document says: "HAP Steering Committee will be co-chaired by a G8 and a G5 partner country and its meetings will be held alternatively by a G8 and G5 partner country."
The Steering Committee will have the necessary latitude and flexibility to organize the needed actions to ensure the Process is result-oriented in the areas of common interest. Consequently, it will take the needed actions, such as maintaining, modifying, and ending existing working groups or creating new ones.
"The Steering Committee can also decide to invite other countries and/or International Organizations to join the discussions of specific working groups, where appropriate, on a case-by-case basis. Partners recognize the positive work done by the HDP Support Unit and the OECD since 2007 and ask them to continue to support the Process in this new phase, adds the document," says the document.
The HAP dialogue will have greater flexibility and will focus on building common understanding to discuss policy alternatives, facilitate common positions in other international fora and produce concrete result.
In the new HAP other countries and international organizations could be invited to join the discussion on a case-by-case basis. The HAP is unique because it is a space for political dialogue, and not a negotiating forum. Its aim is to build trust among the dialogue partners and develop common understanding on issues of global importance.
"We stand ready to continue serving the HAP partners in addressing pressing global challenges and cross-cutting issues which have an impact on global development efforts," said Gurría at the summit.
The HAP agenda lists the following possible themes:
- Freedom of investment to mutual benefit.
- The role of innovation and technology in the process of sustainable and socio-economic development.
- A strategic approach to development and its social dimension.
- Assistance to vulnerable states.
- Food security and reform of relevant organisations.
- Energy.
- Other possible issues to be decided by the Steering Committee. Some indications of interest have already been expressed, says the document.
The HAP is expected to pick up the thread from the HDP that has been steered by the personal representatives of the leaders - the Sherpas - and "carried forward by the respective working groups in an open, transparent and constructive manner".
As a non-negotiating process on an equal footing, says the 'Concluding Report of the Heiligendamm Process', "the HDP has complemented work in other multilateral and regional institutions and fora and has contributed to advance the search for mutually beneficial solutions to common challenges. The OECD and the IEA have supported the HDP through their analyses and expertise and this is appreciated".
The fact that the Five are no longer being treated as 'outcasts' -- and are in fact being called 'partners' -- doe not however imply that G8 and G5 agree on solutions to some of the basic issues that are of critical importance to the developing world.
Agreements in principle -- whether on development in general and official development assistance and achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) aimed at halving poverty by 2015, investment, innovation and energy -- must be fuelled with action. That's what will determine the success or failure of the newly founded G8-G5 partnership. -10.07.2009
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