G8 leaders broadly united on Iran and Syria-US Official
President Barack Obama kisses German Chancellor Angela Merkel on the cheek on arrival for the G8 Summit Friday, May 18, 2012 at Camp David, Md.
AP
CAMP DAVID, Md., May 18 (Reuters) -Group of Eightleaders agreed in their initial discussions atCamp Davidon Friday that Iran needs to disclose more about its nuclear ambitions and that it was time to focus on a political transition inSyria, a U.S. official said.
The leaders, including newly elected French President Francois Hollande and Russian Prime MinisterDmitry Medvedev, also stressedNorth Koreaneeded to adhere to international norms on nuclear issues and said it would face more isolation if it “continues down the path of provocation,” the official said.
The Friday evening dinner, hosted by U.S. President Barack Obama, was the first opportunity for theG8leaders to discuss global security concerns. They will talk about the euro zone crisis and other economic issues, including oil market pressures at the summit on Saturday.
The U.S. official described “a sense of optimism” about conditions in Myanmar, and said the leaders gathered at Camp David, in theMarylandcountryside, pledged to cooperate on providing aid to the formerBurma.
TheCamp Davidsummit comes days before the next round of Iran talks, to be held inBaghdad. TheG8leaders “affirmed the importance of having a uniform effort in approaching thoseBaghdadtalks next week,” the U.S. official said.
“Each of the leaders noted the urgency for Iran to take concrete steps to assure the international community of the peaceful purpose of its (nuclear) program,” the official said.
On the crackdown byDamascus, the official described broad agreement on “the need to move rapidly toward a plan for political transition withinSyria” and said that while Medvedev did not outright support that call, he did not oppose it either.
Medvedev is standing in for Russian PresidentVladimir Putinat the Friday-SaturdayG8meeting, which also draws together leaders from theUnited States,Canada, Britain,France,Germany,ItalyandJapan.
At the end of the Friday night dinner, Obama had a chocolate birthday cake delivered for Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda, whose birthday is on Sunday. TheG8atCamp Davidwill end on Saturday afternoon, at which time Obama and several of the other leaders will head toChicagofor a NATO summit.