The traditional group photograph of G20 foreign ministers was absent from their meeting in Atlanta, United States, on Friday, following objections from European representatives to the participation of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
The US State Department’s schedule for the meeting did not include the customary “family photo” session. Ministers, including Lavrov, began the first session without taking the traditional group picture.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul told reporters earlier on Friday that there would be no photograph bringing European partners together with Lavrov, stressing that relations with Moscow were not normal at present.
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged his G20 counterparts to work together to strengthen geopolitical stability and economic prosperity, warning that a series of crises posed serious threats to the global economic system.
In a related development, Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand was absent from the opening plenary session after criticizing Lavrov’s participation. A spokesperson said she would arrive late after attending a Canada-European Union summit in Montreal.
South Africa’s representative was also absent from the meeting after the United States, which holds the G20 presidency this year, did not invite the country.
European officials had previously considered the possibility of taking two separate photographs, one with Lavrov and another without him, in an attempt to overcome the disagreement over the Russian foreign minister’s participation.
European G20 members support Ukraine, which has objected to recent US decisions concerning Russia, including an agreement to purchase diesel fuel and the lifting of certain sanctions.
