Taormina has turned into a fortress. Every alley of the splendid Sicilian town is manned day and night by soldiers, policemen, carabinieri and financiers for a total of over 7.000 men engaged between the city center, Letojanni and Giardini Naxos, where the "No G7" demonstration is scheduled for Saturday. Seven checkpoints prevent anyone without a pass from entering the maximum security area.
the PARTICIPATING COUNTRIES
The countdown is over, Taormina is ready for the G7 on 26 and 27 May presided over by Italy. The seven participating heads of state have all already arrived: Paolo Gentiloni, Justine Trudeau, Emmanuel Macron, Theresa May, Shinzo Abe, Donald Trump and Angela Merkel. The European Union, represented by the President of the European Commission, Jean Claude Juncker, is also part of the group as an unenumerated member.
THE TOPICS OF THE G7
The summit between the seven heads of state and government of the developed nations with the largest net national wealth in the world cannot fail to have as its central theme national security and the fight against terrorism. The Manchester bombing obviously upset the political agenda, bringing the war to jihad back to the top of the priorities of the Seven. The Italian presidency of the G7 has prepared a declaration on the "Security of citizens" and will push to approve it on Saturday in Taormina. The document contains 15 solemn points in which the condemnation of the Islamic State is reaffirmed, the commitment to "take the fight against terrorism to a higher level", unleashing a "non-stop hunt for all the guilty and those who it helps".
But despite the tragedy, other important topics cannot be overlooked. First among all the migrants. From January to today more than 45 people have landed in Italy and the numerous shipwrecks of the last period impose a common strategy aimed on the one hand at regulating the flows and on the other at finding the best way to rescue those fleeing bombings and terrorism.
And again: the North Korea and Pyongyang's missile tests; the negotiations on the agreement on climate that Trump intends to blow up, cybersecurity after "Wannacry", the war in Syria, Brexit, innovation, inequalities and trade relations between states after the u-turn given by the US president.
The G7 could therefore represent a fundamental meeting opportunity to discuss and find agreements on the most sensitive issues at the center of the international agenda of leaders, but above all of the thoughts and concerns of citizens.
SECURITY UPDATE TRAINING
"We ask for results from the G7, we know it won't be a simple confrontation, but the spirit of Taormina can help us in the right direction - said the Prime Minister, Paolo Gentiloni, in a video message released before the start of the works - The extraordinary story and beauty that surrounds us and the reality of Taormina, Sicily and Italy I believe will be able to make an important contribution to the leaders of the G7 and help give answers to what citizens are asking us today on terrorism and security above all, and we will make a declaration important here today, on climate change, on the great migratory flows, on world trade, on which so many jobs and the prospects of our economies depend".
