G15 — 9 + 1 = 0
MY CAMPAIGN for levelling out summits took a step forward this week, when the Group of Fifteen nations gathered in New Delhi for a three-day summit meeting and found themselves with eight no-shows. A ninth, President Carlos Menem of Argenti- na, hopes to look in before the end. He needs to know what happens at these meet- ings because he is meant to chair the next one. It must disappoint the sherpas, who had already written the communiqué. The G15, whose number is new to me, hoped to find a place between the G7 (industrial countries) and the 024 (developers), and well upwind from the G77 (any number can play), but are finding it hard. They could not get a quorum last year and this year the conference hall is echoing. If next year Mr Menem tells those present to go home and get on with their work, he will earn himself a campaign medal.
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