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CNN Live At Daybreak

G8 Summit: Massive Protests Expected

Aired July 20, 2001 - 11:13   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: President Bush is in Italy today. It's for the first G8 Summit of his presidency. Mr. Bush finds himself out of step with other leaders on several issues. And thanks to protests, he may find his time outside the meeting hall quite a bit bumpy as well.

Our CNN White House correspondent Kelly Wallace is travelling with the president. And she joins us from Genoa -- Kelly, hello.

KELLY WALLACE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hello there, Daryn.

Well, ever since the World Trade talks in Seattle back in 1999, these meetings featuring world leaders discussing the economy have become synonymous with protesters. And this meeting is no different, although Secret Service sources tell CNN that the number of protesters on the streets is less than the 100,000 expected, and that so far, there have been pockets of violence, but nothing that has really escalated and gotten out of hand.

We do know about 39 people, though, have been arrested so far. And really, the most aggressive behavior is being blamed a small number of demonstrators who periodically try to break through the barricades which are forming a security perimeter around the summit site. And in response, the police are using tear gas and water cannons to keep those protesters away.

We should note that these demonstrations have not disrupted these meetings getting under way on this day. The leaders of the world's wealthiest nations met this afternoon, discussing a couple of issues: No. 1, the importance for each country to get its own economic house in order; and No. 2, to help stimulate the global economy and help developing countries by launching another round of global trade talks.

As for President Bush, well, before arriving here, he sent a message to these demonstrators. He said those who protest against free trade and charge it will benefit the wealthiest nations at the expense of the poorest, well, he says he thinks they are all wrong and that these demonstrators are hurting, not helping the most impoverished countries.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: There are some who will try to disrupt the meetings, claiming they represent the poor. To those folks, I say, instead of embracing policies that represent the poor, you embrace policies that lock poor people into poverty. And that's unacceptable to the United States.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WALLACE: Now, in just a short time from now, the leaders expected to be joined by U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, as well as the leaders from countries such as South Africa and Nigeria, to formally unveil a new global trust fund to combat HIV and AIDS -- the U.S. has already pledged $200 million dollars to the effort -- other countries expected to announce contributions to put the total at about a billion dollars.

But many AIDS activists think that countries such as the United States, countries which are quite wealthy, should be contributing much, much more.

Now, other items which are not exactly on the agenda, but likely to be discussed over this three-day summit include Mr. Bush's push for a missile defense system and also his continued opposition to that international treaty known as the Kyoto Protocol to reduce global warming -- many European allies quite critical of the president. He's likely to get some questions about specifics, exactly what he is going to do on these two issues down the road.

Daryn, that's the latest from here -- back to you.

KAGAN: Kelly, thank you so much.

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