Sign Up
..... Connect Australia with the world.
Categories

Posted: 2020-06-02 03:03:18

Loading

The G7 members are Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States. The group's presidency rotates annually among member countries. Trump has repeatedly advocated for expanding the group to again include Russia.

Russia was expelled from what was then the G8 in 2014 when Barack Obama was US president, after Moscow annexed the Crimea region from Ukraine. Russia still holds the territory and various G7 governments have rebuffed previous calls from Trump to re-admit Moscow.

The US House of Representatives passed a bipartisan resolution in December 2019 that supported Russia's previous expulsion from the annual gathering.

Trudeau said nations in the larger Group of 20 don't always agree but that the G7 is for like minded countries and he hopes that continues.

"The G7 has always been a place for frank conversations with allies and friends who share so much. That's certainly what I'm hoping to continue to see," Trudeau said.

The disagreement over the group comes as Putin set a July 1 date for a nationwide vote on constitutional amendments that will allow him to extend his rule until 2036.

Friends: Under Vladimir Putin, Russia has turned away from liberalism. Donald Trump, meanwhile, shows contempt for liberal norms such as a free press and an independent judicial system.

Friends: Under Vladimir Putin, Russia has turned away from liberalism. Donald Trump, meanwhile, shows contempt for liberal norms such as a free press and an independent judicial system.Credit:AP

Speaking during a live video call with top officials, Putin insisted that the pace of the coronavirus outbreak had slowed down, allowing the nation to safely hold the vote. If approved, the constitutional amendments would allow Putin to spend another 12 years in power after his current term ends in 2024.

Officials reported to Putin that voters would have a chance to cast ballots in the six days before July 1 to reduce crowds and increase safety amid the pandemic. They said they would distribute free masks, gloves and pens at polling stations, adding that voting would be held outdoors in many areas to make it even safer.

"It will be safer than visiting a grocery store," Central Election Commission head Ella Pamfilova told Putin.

The constitutional vote has been the focal point on Putin's political agenda since he initiated the changes in January.

An ice cream seller waits for customers at a department store as Russia began reopening on Monday.

An ice cream seller waits for customers at a department store as Russia began reopening on Monday.Credit:AP

The new measure would reset his term count, allowing him to run for two more six-year terms if he chooses. The 67-year-old Putin has been in power since 2000, longer than any other ruler in the country since Soviet dictator Josef Stalin.

Other constitutional changes further strengthen the presidency and emphasise the priority of Russian law over international norms - a provision reflecting the Kremlin's irritation with the European Court of Human Rights and other international bodies that have often issued verdicts against Russia.

Putin on Monday emphasised the importance of the constitutional vote, saying that "the constitution forms the foundation of our country's life."

"I strongly hope that citizens of Russia will take an active part in determining the parameters of the main law," he said.

AP, Reuters

View More
  • 0 Comment(s)
Captcha Challenge
Reload Image
Type in the verification code above