Head of the Federal Chancellery Thomas de Maizière reported on preparations for the G8 meeting to be held on 6 and 7 June. He reminded us that it is not only the heads of state and government of the world's eight major industrialised nations who will be meeting in Heiligendamm. Several African states as well as emerging economies such as India and Mexico have been invited.
Motto: Global growth and employment
The summit meeting of the world's eight leading industrialised nations have brought about much progress. The Heiligendamm summit will be the third summit in a row to look at the situation in Africa and the fight against HIV/AIDS.
The social dimensions of globalisation will also be on the agenda in Heiligendamm. The aim is to agree on worldwide minimum core labour standards. The G8 Ministers of Labour have already prepared the ground.
The focus of the conference in June will be climate protection. It will look at the steps that must be initiated worldwide when the Kyoto Protocol expires in 2012.
Security is guaranteed
Everything will be done to ensure that the summit is peaceful. The Ministry of the Interior of the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania is already in contact with critics of globalisation. Many meetings and demonstrations have been registered and camps are being set up.
A total of 16,000 police officers drawn from all over the country will be in action in Heiligendamm. The Minister of the Interior of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Lorenz Caffier, stressed that their mandate is to de-escalate any trouble.
Should there nevertheless be any violent clashes, the police will be prepared. Criminal offences will be dealt with immediately, said Caffier.
Violent protestors can also be taken into custody for up to ten days in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania as a precautionary measure.
De Maizière expressed his surprise at the massive criticism that has been levelled at the large-scale police raid on militant G8 opponents. The public prosecutor's office had ordered the police investigations and the measures were conducted by the federal police force, on the basis of a court order. There can thus be no question of intimidation, as has been claimed in some corners, he declared.
