The purpose is to investigate potential win-win initiatives in global problem areas that are currently characterized as intractable. The process will explore several global negotiations that are deadlocked. Problem areas include energy security, climate change, global public health and nuclear proliferation. The process will include 3 preparatory meetings, followed by a May 2007 “Statesmen” meeting to consider options for a package deal. Recommendations will be widely publicized in the academic community, the serious press, and the foreign ministries of the OECD and the countries involved.
The Centre for Global Studies (CFGS) will manage the planned four-step process which will involve substantive contributions from the Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI), the Brookings Institution, Tsinghua University, the OECD and the Leaders Project (the Gilman Foundation), and lead to a Statesmen Summit of 14 major countries (G8 plus China, Brazil, India, South Africa, Indonesia and Mexico).
The third meeting in Paris in March 12-13, 2007 will be a Chatham House rules meeting, where serving officials from the 14 countries will convene with selected participants from the preceding 2 meetings to prepare the agenda and briefing materials for the White Oak meeting of the 14 Statesmen selected from the ranks of highly regarded former Leaders. The meeting will be chaired by Angel Gurria, Secretary-General of the OECD.