Expert opinion

	03.12.06 Victoria Panova G8 research group, University of Toronto, Director for Russia
	03.12.06 Mona Bricke German NGO Forum Environment and Development
	03.12.06 Nigel Martin Montreal International Rorum (FIM)
	02.12.06 John Kirton Head of G8 Research Group, University of Toronto
	02.12.06 Regina Gunter Head of the WWF Germany

News

NGOs to work out recommendations for G8 summit

MOSCOW, February 16 – Representatives of Russian and foreign non-governmental organizations gathered in Moscow today to work out recommendations for the St. Petersburg G8 summit this summer.

Such round table discussions are traditionally held to find out the society's views on key issues on the forthcoming summit's agenda. This year the priorities are energy security, fighting infectious diseases and education. The work is coordinated by Ella Pamfilova, chairperson of the Presidential Council on Civil Society Institutions and Human Rights.

Opening today's meeting, she said: "Participation of foreign NGOs will help the Russian society, which does not have extensive experience of holding similar debates, find its place in the important process of preparing summits."

She invited the participants to attend the international NGOs forum that will be held in Moscow on March 9-10. "G8 sherpas have already said they want to meet Russian NGOs and I hope that we will have something to tell them by March," she said.

Russian NGOs will do their best to ensure that different opinions on topics discussed can be expressed during Russia's Presidency in the Group of Eight, Pamfilova said.

Expert opinion

	02.12.06 Halter Marek Le College de France
	02.12.06 Olivier Giscard d’Estaing COPAM, France
	02.12.06 Mika Ohbayashi Institute for Sustainable Energy Poliсy
	02.12.06 Bill Pace World Federalist Movement - Institute for Global Policy
	01.12.06 Peter I. Hajnal Toronto University, G8 Research Group