Cablegate: G-20 and Doha- Sao Paulo Media Reaction

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SUBJECT: G-20 and Doha- Sao Paulo Media Reaction

Title: In a sober meeting, G-20 prioritize preventive actions

Editorial in economic newspaper Valor Economico (11/18) says:
"Equally surrounded by skepticism and somewhat reasonable
expectations, the first meeting of the G-20 leaders...surprised for
the objectivity and commitments assumed... The G-20 summit might
have modestly made history by opening up decision mechanisms which
include the emerging countries and reflect the changes in economic
power since Breton Woods. Made without exultation, it is an
excellent change, which now needs to be put into practice."

Title: The G-20 and the immediate challenge

Lead editorial in center-right O Estado de S. Paulo (11/18)
comments: "The first summit of the Chiefs of State of the G-20, in
Washington, was more productive than expected, but the major
challenge at this moment is not the reform of the international
financial system but to alleviate and shorten the crisis... Several
good ideas were presented and, before damages caused by the subprime
bubble, maybe governments could be stimulated to promote important
changes. This we will see later. Also, it is necessary to check if
the G-20, when the emergency is gone, will be consolidated as a
forum of major negotiations on the global economy. For now,
rhetoric is more promising than the experience."

Title: Back to Doha

Liberal Folha de S. Paulo editorialized (11/18): "The G-20 summit
brought few surprises - all very light, because it is not expected
that such an extensive meeting called at the last minute might dry
out and even less solve the financial international crisis. Among
rare unexpected things in Washington was the recommendation of the
Chiefs of State and governments that the Doha Round negotiations be
resumed in December. It is a good sign that such determination had
survived at the G-20 communiqu... The resumption of Doha
negotiations in December depends on Pascal Lamy, Director General of
WTO, to have sufficient political support to call for a meeting
within a month. As Obama takes office in January, it is his
interest to prevent that this happens. Counterbalancing such
obstacle is only the size of the crisis. It is necessary to verify
if it is serious enough to change the usual rhetoric of the summits
into real concessions at the negotiation table."
White

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