Russia's G8 presidency event of the year – Foreign Ministry

December 25

One of the main foreign political events of 2006 was Russia's first presidency of the Group of Eight, according to a report on the Foreign Ministry's work in 2006 posted on the Russian government's website on Monday.

"The G8 summit in St. Petersburg (July 15-17) made important decisions on the priority topics of Russia's presidency: international energy security, the fight against dangerous infectious diseases and the development of education," the report reads. "The summit's statement on energy security determined the most important areas of work in the global energy sphere and clarified the principle that producers and consumers are mutually responsible for stable and sustainable development of the global energy industry by ensuring security of supply and demand."