After the Heiligendamm G8 summit

Last week, during the G8 Summit in Heiligendamm, President George W. Bush, with the other leaders from the G8 nations, took action to address a broad range of global issues.

One of the most important issues on the agenda was the launching of a new global framework to address climate change and assure energy security and economic growth through enhanced co-operation on technology.

The G8 endorsed President Bush's initiative to convene the major energy consuming and greenhouse gas emitting economies to agree on a new international framework by the end of 2008, including a long-term global goal for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Concrete efforts will be made by all nations to implement national energy efficiency programmes and to enhance co-operation with developing countries to accelerate the development and deployment of clean energy technologies.

Health in developing countries is also a top priority for the US. Recently, President Bush announced his intention to double the initial US commitment to fighting the scourge of HIV/AIDS to a total of $30 billion over an additional five years. The US is proud to be making an unprecedented commitment to saving lives by combating this global pandemic, which has ravaged much of the developing world and which continues to cause great suffering across the globe.

Among the international community, the US is the largest contributor to the Global Fund to fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria and will seek to maintain its leadership in multilateral efforts. Over a ten-year period, the American people will have committed $48.3 billion to fight HIV/AIDS, but the battle cannot be fought alone.

International partnerships must be maintained and co-operation increased if we are to eradicate this scourge. President Bush reiterated his call for developed and developing countries - in particular middle-income countries where projections suggest many new infections will occur - to increase their contributions to fighting AIDS. HIV/AIDS is a global crisis that requires a global response.

President Bush will now work with Congress to reauthorise the United States Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, And Malaria Act Of 2003, which established the President's Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). PEPFAR's success is rooted in support for country-owned strategies and programmes which commit resources and determine results.

These results are achieved through the power of partnerships with governments, non-governmental, faith- and community-based organisations and the private sector. With full implementation of a new "Partnership Compact" model, the next phase of the American people's commitment to those suffering from HIV/AIDS will continue to expand life-saving treatment, comprehensive prevention programmes and care for those in need, including orphans and vulnerable children.

PEPFAR will further expand efforts to strengthen health systems, and to leverage programmes that address malaria, tuberculosis, child and maternal health, clean water, food and nutrition, education and other needs. The plan will emphasise transitioning from emergency action to a sustainable response for treatment, prevention and care.

First Lady Laura Bush will travel to Africa to help assess the progress made to date, and to meet community leaders and participants in HIV/AIDS programmes in four countries: Zambia, Senegal, Mali and Mozambique. She will return to the US to share her experiences with American policy-makers but also with America's partners in Europe.

The European Union is also playing a key role in the international response by developing and strengthening partnerships with key stakeholders at global level, working for increased harmonisation of donor support, and by providing substantial support to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

Africa and the Middle East continue to be high on the agenda of the US, the EU, and the G8 nations. The Heiligendamm Process recognises the growing importance of emerging economies and the need to address innovation, freedom of investment and energy efficiency in developing nations across the globe.

Economic progress, however, is dependent on peace and on good governance. Terrorist attempts to sabotage economic strategies for development have to be stopped. Only then will the people in developing nations be able to enjoy the benefits of open markets, transparency and investment opportunities. Collaborative efforts will continue to support the central role of the UN in combating terrorism and in facilitating humanitarian aid.

G8 leaders have expressed their commitment to the creation of a viable, sovereign and democratic Palestinian state, living side by side in peace and security with Israel, with internationally recognised borders. Support was pledged to Lebanon's legitimate government to facilitate a rapid solution to the current political deadlock.

The leaders welcomed the launching of the International Compacts with Iraq on May 3, and reiterated their commitment to Iraq's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity. Afghanistan's progress was also welcomed and the commitment to support the Afghans in building a secure, economically viable and democratic state, based on the rule of law, was reiterated.

President Bush expressed great satisfaction with the valuable action taken during the summit to address so many key international issues. However, we must not rest on our laurels. So much still needs to be done, for example, about Iran's failure to address international concerns over its nuclear activities and about regards to the denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula.

At the summit conclusion, European Council president and German Chancellor Angela Merkel spoke for all the participants when she said "it was a successful summit". She added, however, "we can't get along without each other". These words reflect the sentiments of the US government and President Bush.

The US will continue to work with the EU and all international partners to stem the tide of international conflicts and to give a human face to globalisation.

Molly Bordonaro is the United States Ambassador to Malta.