G8 presidency to define Russia's future foreign policy priorities

Russia's presidency in the Group of Eight industrial nations will define its foreign policy priorities for 2006 and several years to come, said Konstantin Kosachev, chairman of the State Duma’s international committee, when opening a roundtable devoted to Russia's presidency.

Russia "presides over this prestigious club of world powers" for the first time, he said, emphasizing that its participation in G8 activities was directly linked to the country's economic development.

"We tackle many practical issues within the G8 framework. For example, due to agreements reached at a G8 meeting, $70 billion of Russia's foreign debt was restructured," Kosachev said.

He pointed out that the increase in Russia's investment attractiveness and upgrades of its credit ratings by international agencies were direct consequences of its involvement with the G8 events.

The issues Russia has proposed to take up at the forthcoming summit, such as countering new threats and challenges, infectious diseases and others, are not only Russia's priorities but concern the entire international community, he said.

Separately, he pointed to Russia's contribution to international war on terror, recalling that last year the UN General Assembly had adopted the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism, initiated by Russia.

"Discussions of the issue at the preliminary stage by the Group of Eight opens the door to adopting an even more important UN convention, namely the convention on efforts to combat international terrorism,"  Kosachev said.

"We greatly value the ongoing dialog within the G8 to promote non-proliferation," he added.