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

Iran, Terror, Drugs to Top G8 Foreign Ministers' Agenda

MOSCOW (RIA Novosti) -- Foreign ministers from the world's wealthiest nations will gather in St. Petersburg to discuss the Iranian nuclear program, terrorism and narcotics, Russia's foreign minister said.

The foreign ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, Britain, and the United States will meet ahead of the Group of Eight summit to consider Iran's controversial nuclear research program, which Western nations suspect is being used as a cover for a weapons program. Iran has dismissed allegations, saying it needs nuclear research for energy.

Sergei Lavrov said the ministers would also consider the situation in other Middle East countries, including Iraq, as well as Afghanistan, Kosovo, and the Korean peninsula.

"Draft documents on these issues are virtually settled, but as the situation is changing they may be adjusted just before the meeting," Lavrov told President Vladimir Putin and the cabinet at a session.

On terrorism and Iran, Lavrov said the ministers would consider ways of preventing terrorists from obtaining access to weapons of mass destruction.

"We are working on the idea of setting up an international center that would offer nuclear cycle services," he said.

Russia has proposed opening such centers worldwide as a way to resolve the crisis around Iran and to ensure nuclear non-proliferation.

Lavrov also said that an extended ministerial conference would be organized ahead of the foreign ministers' meeting to bring together representatives of 50 countries to discuss the fight against drug trafficking from Afghanistan, the world's leading drug producer.

The minister said he would meet separately with the foreign ministers of U.S., Italy, Germany, Greece and Turkey on the sidelines of the event.

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