G20 leaders' summit produces declaration, with Ukraine war the most debated article
President Joko Widodo officially handed over the G20 presidency to India at the end of the two-day summit.
From left, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, French President Emmanuel Macron, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, U.S. President Joe Biden, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, Japan Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and European Council President Charles Michel during a meeting at Nusa Dua in Bali, Indonesia on Nov 16, 2022. (Photo: AP/Firdia Lisnawati/Pool)
NUSA DUA, Indonesia: Indonesian President Joko Widodo said the war in Ukraine was the most debated article of the Group of 20 (G20) declaration, which was ratified on Wednesday (Nov 16) at the closing of the annual leaders’ summit.
Speaking at a press conference at the end of the two-day economic meet in Nusa Dua, Bali, Mr Widodo noted initial doubts over whether the leaders would be able to produce a declaration.
“Discussions on this matter were very, very tough and in the end, the leaders of the G20 agreed on the contents of the declaration, namely condemnation of the war in Ukraine since it is a violation of territorial integrity,” said Mr Jokowi, as the president is popularly known.
“There is only one article that is highly debated, namely the stance towards the war in Ukraine. We talked about this until midnight and finally, the Bali Declaration was reached with a consensus.”
There are 52 articles in the Bali Leaders’ Declaration.
It states that most members strongly condemned the war in Ukraine, and stressed that it is causing immense human suffering and exacerbating existing fragilities in the global economy. The war is constraining growth, increasing inflation, disrupting supply chains, heightening energy and food insecurity and elevating financial stability risks, members said in the declaration.
It also states that it is essential to uphold international law and the multilateral system that safeguards peace and stability.
Today’s era must not be of war, it adds.
Indonesia is this year’s rotating president of the G20, which comes amid a war in Ukraine that broke out in February.
While Western countries have condemned Russia for invading Ukraine, Indonesia has remained neutral throughout its G20 presidency, calling for the war to end without directly blaming Moscow.
The war led to disagreements at ministerial meetings leading up to the G20 summit, resulting in the lack of a declaration.
Mr Jokowi said he was happy that the leaders’ summit this week managed to produce a declaration, and added that it was the first realisable one since February.
POLAND EXPLOSION OVERSHADOWS CLOSING DAY
Hours before the G20 Leaders’ Summit was about to conclude, a missile killed two people in Przewodow, a village about 6km from Poland’s border with Ukraine.
United States President Joe Biden on Wednesday morning immediately met with Western allies who were in Bali for the G20, resulting in the day’s summit agenda being delayed.
After the talks, Mr Biden said the missile was probably not fired from Russia.
Mr Jokowi also took the opportunity to address the incident during the press conference.
“First, I regret the incident in Poland. All parties need to remain calm and refrain from escalating tensions.
“I have always stated that war will only bring devastation, therefore, we must stop the war.”
The closing day of the G20 Leaders’ Summit marks the end of Indonesia’s presidency.
Mr Jokowi handed over the presidency to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the next rotating president.
“I am sure that under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, the G20 will keep moving,” said the Indonesian president.
