Russia ready to continue dialogue on G8 agenda with all interested states - Kremlin spokesman

MOSCOW, March 25 (Itar-Tass) - Russia would continue co-operation on the Group of Eight (G8) problems with the countries that are ready for such interaction, although in some aspects it would be wound down, RF presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov told Itar-Tass, noting that he considered “counterproductive” the refusal from co-operation with the RF that on Monday had been voiced by other members of the alliance. “As for the contacts with the G8 countries, we are ready for them, are interested in them, but the unwillingness of other countries to continue the dialogue, in our view, is counterproductive both for us and our partners,” he said. Peskov recalled that in terms of the content, Russia’s presidency in the Group of Eight involves the work on a whole range of spheres and hundreds of events at various levels - from the expert to ministerial and highest levels. “To all appearances, part of them will be wound down,” the press secretary noted. “However, this will not be done regarding contacts with the countries that are willing to continue the dialogue - interaction with them will be certainly continued,” he emphasised. Peskov cited as an example the current events within the framework of Russia’s Federal Drug Control Service (FSKN) that are aimed at the settlement of issues related to combating drug trafficking. “It’s a very large co-operation volume that is important for various countries of the world,” he said. “It’s absurd to refuse from this co-operation at a time when many countries suffer from this problem,” the RF presidential press secretary believes. “Russia will be ready to continue the dialogue with the countries that are ready for that, in order not to hamper mutually advantageous interaction in important spheres,” Peskov stressed. Transferring from the conceptual to infrastructural preparation of the summit that had been planned for June 4 - 5 in Sochi, the RF presidential press secretary noted that it was not needed. “Sochi has the needed infrastructure, it is ready for such events,” he said. Peskov also specified that Moscow was not waiting for any formal notifications from other G8 member states on the suspension of membership. “The statement was made at the highest level, which testifies to the unwillingness to hold the summit with Russia,” Peskov recalled. “In this case, as the G8 is a format that has no institutionalisation, so there can be no formalities,” he said. For the same reason on Monday other G8 members could not exclude Russia from the G8. As such a procedure simply does not exist, they had to announce the suspension of their own membership in the G8 in order to freeze this format, according to a declaration adopted on the results of The Hague summit. Thus, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that she did not expect the G8 summit to be held in Russia’s Sochi this year. According to her, the political situation due to the developments in Ukraine gives no reason for such a meeting. UK Prime Minister David Cameron voiced a similar position. European Council President Herman Van Rompuy said after the informal meeting in the Hague that the leaders of the seven other member states of the G8 would hold their summit in Brussels in June without Russia. Russia is presiding in the G8 this year.