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

Putin's flotation of rouble pays off ahead of G8

Vladimir Putin's decision to highlight the strength of the Russian economy ahead of next week's St Petersburg G8 summit - by allowing the rouble to float freely on the foreign exchanges for the first time - was rewarded when the currency rose slightly against a weaker US dollar yesterday.
In mid-afternoon trading, it rose to 26.88 roubles to the dollar, from 26.94 on Friday, although it fell slightly against the euro.

Russia hosts its first G8 summit on July 15, and the Kremlin believes that allowing the rouble to float will make the country's energy-rich economy more attractive to foreign investors.

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