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

Russia's chief doctor wants infectious diseases high on G8 agenda

ST. PETERSBURG, April 12 (RIA Novosti) - Infectious diseases should be given as much attention as energy issues at the upcoming summit of the Group of Eight leading industrialized nations, Russia's chief doctor said Wednesday.

"We have managed to convince G8 leaders that the problem of infectious diseases today concerns all of humanity and could impact the course of history at some point or even turn it sharply," Gennady Onishchenko told a news conference in St. Petersburg, the city that will host the G8 summit in July.

He said the problem of preventing and containing communicable diseases had become all the more topical after the emergence of bird flu. The pathogenic virus has now been detected in 54 countries across the world, with 192 human cases reported, including 109 fatalities.

Onishchenko said Russia would propose measures to improve global monitoring of the most prevalent infectious diseases, including those caused by influenza.

HIV/AIDS, polio and measles will also be among the diseases discussed at the G8 summit, he 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