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

State's Shiner Visits Moscow in Preparation for G8 Summit

Under Secretary of State for Economic, Business and Agricultural Affairs Josette Shiner will visit Moscow May 4 and 5 to discuss the summit of the Group of Eight countries (G8) scheduled for July 15-17 in St. Petersburg, Russia.

Shiner's visit follows that of Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs R. Nicholas Burns, who visited Moscow in mid-April to discuss preparations for the summit. The G8 includes the seven most industrialized countries - Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States - and Russia.

Russia holds the rotating chairmanship of the G8 in 2006, and has chosen to focus on energy security, education and infectious diseases as major themes. (See related article.)

"The issues that Russia has chosen for the G8 Summit - energy security, infectious diseases and education - are all critically important," said Shiner. "With this meeting we hope to create an agenda that will move these issues forward in a way that will benefit America and the world."

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