Page 8 - ARUBA TODAY

A8 WORLD NEWS
Friday 30 June 2017
Europeans line up behind Paris accord, free trade before G20

By GEIR MOULSON lawmakers, Merkel said
Associated Press that “since the decision
BERLIN (AP) — European by the United States of
leaders said Thursday they America to leave the Paris
are ready to defend the climate accord, we are
Paris climate accord and more determined than
free trade when they face ever to lead it to success.”
President Donald Trump at “The Paris agreement is ir-
the Group of 20 summit. reversible and it is not ne-
German Chancellor Ange- gotiable,” she said.
la Merkel said Europe was Later, though, Merkel
“more determined than brushed off a question
ever” to see the climate about chances of G-20
deal succeed. members except Trump
The Trump administration’s drawing up a statement
“America First” approach on climate change.
to trade has caused wide- “I don’t want to partici-
spread concern interna- pate in speculation today
tionally, as has its decision about ‘what happens if,’”
to pull out of the Paris ac- she said.
cord. Trump announced “The message is that we
the withdrawal shortly after want to find solutions to-
returning from last month’s gether, even though we
Group of 7 summit in Italy. France’s President Emmanuel Macron, left, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel speak during know that in some ques-
Merkel told the German a press conference after a gathering of European leaders on the upcoming G-20 summit in the tions, for example the cli-
parliament that “we can- chancellery in Berlin, Germany, Thursday, June 29, 2017. mate question, it is not very
not expect easy talks in (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber) easy.”
Hamburg” on climate is- She and French President ers of Britain, France, Italy, “the United States of Amer- Macron said that “it is no
sues when leaders of the Emmanuel Macron said Spain, the Netherlands, ica is an important part of use isolating a state.”
G-20 global economic there is agreement on is- Norway and the European the G-20, and we will do “We do not share his view
powers meet in the city sues such as fighting terror- Union in Berlin, Merkel said everything to work togeth- of things on this subject,”
July 7-8. ism and they will seek joint they were “united” behind er while not papering over he added, speaking about
“The disagreement is ob- solutions. the climate accord. differences.” the climate accord. “But
vious, and it would be dis- Trump announced June Macron underlined the Eu- The chancellor wasn’t hesi- it is always preferable to
honest to gloss over it,” she 1 he was pulling the U.S. ropeans’ “very strong com- tant to demonstrate the make a joint declaration
said. “I won’t do that, in from the Paris deal. The mitment” to the Paris deal. scope of Europe’s differ- and leave open the oppor-
any case.” U.S. could try to rejoin the He said he had “at least the ences with the current U.S. tunity to countries around
Still, meeting later Thursday agreement under more hope, in any case, that one administration over the Par- the table to sign up in the
with European participants favorable terms or work to or another will be brought is accord’s goals for curb- medium term.”
in the G-20, she sought to establish “an entirely new to reason and can follow ing carbon emissions and Macron has invited Trump
downplay prospects of an transaction,” Trump said. us.” global warming. to attend Bastille Day cel-
outright clash with Trump. After meeting the lead- But Merkel stressed that In her speech to German ebrations in Paris July 14.q

UK lawmakers pass May’s agenda after last-minute concession

By JILL LAWLESS May left a gathering of Eu- Northern Ireland to travel
Associated Press ropean leaders in Germa- to England for abortions.
LONDON (AP) — British ny early to fly back for the Abortion is banned in
Prime Minister Theresa vote, which ministers knew Northern Ireland unless a
May’s Conservative minor- would be close. woman’s life or mental
ity government secured May called the snap elec- health is in danger, and
lawmakers’ backing for its tion in a misjudged attempt hundreds of women a year
legislative plans by a nar- to bolster her majority and travel to other parts of the
row margin Thursday, but strengthen her authority U.K. to terminate pregnan-
only after making a sud- during talks on Britain’s de- cies. They must pay for the
den concession on abor- parture from the European abortions, as well as for
tion funding to stave off Union. Instead, it left her travel costs.
defeat. weakened at home and Labour Party lawmaker
The House of Commons abroad, and tipped Par- Stella Creasy obtained a
voted by 323 to 309 to ap- liament into a new era of vote on a motion calling for
prove last week’s Queen’s deal-making, compromise the government to ensure
Speech, which laid out the and concessions. that women from Northern
government’s agenda for In a sign of the govern- Ireland have access to free
the next two years. British Prime Minister Theresa May leaves 10 Downing Street in ment’s fragile hold on abortions. Several Con-
London, to attend Prime Minister’s Questions at the Houses of
The slimmed-down pack- Parliament, Wednesday, June 28, 2017. power, government minis- servative legislators indi-
age jettisoned several (AP Photo/Matt Dunham) ters were forced into a ma- cated they would support
policy pledges made by jor concession hours before the amendment because
the Conservatives before Rejection of its legislative which struck a deal with the vote. Fearing defeat it corrected a longstand-
Britain’s June 8 election, plan would have been a Northern Ireland’s Demo- on an opposition amend- ing injustice, prompting the
which saw May’s party major — and possibly fatal cratic Unionist Party this ment, ministers said they government’s scramble to
humiliatingly stripped of its — blow to May’s already week to make sure it can would pay for women from change its policy. q
parliamentary majority. weakened administration, win key votes.