3 February 2010
g7 in arctic without russia
A number of agencies today reported the meeting of G7 finance ministers which is to take place in the tiny town of Iqaluit, capital of the Canadian province of Nunavut. Интерфакс, however, points out in its headline that the meeting is to take place in the Arctic ‘without Russia.’ As they put it, ‘Россию же в этот арктический рай пока не позвали’ – i.e, ‘Russia has not, for the time being, been summoned to this Arctic paradise’.
Apparently the Canadians decided to use this remote venue to show-off the beauty of the north and to return to a more informal style. Though the interfax report is mostly commentary on the unusual location the headline of the piece, plus the reasons for Canada’s decision on the venue and the actual absence of Russia could lead a casual observer to conclude that something no less than symbolism is also at work.
