History of Russia and the G8

On July 17, 1991, the Soviet Union's President Mikhail Gorbachev met G7 leaders on the sidelines of the G7 summit in London. G7 leaders used the same format for meeting the Russian President in Munich in 1992 and in Tokyo in 1993. The meetings established direct interaction between the G7 and Russia on a number of international political and economic issues.

The formation of the G8 began at the Naples summit in 1994. The most important stage for further development was the 1995 summit in Halifax. It gave a new impetus for establishing practical cooperation on a number of global problems and for creating G8 working mechanisms involving Russia.

The Denver summit in June 1997 was held as a meeting of equal G8 partners. In the final communiqué, the partners recognized that Russia was "completing historical transition to a democratic state with a market economy."

At following G8 summits in Birmingham (May 1998), Cologne (June 1999), Okinawa (July 2000), Genoa (July 2001), Russia continued to play a full and valuable role in G8 affairs. Following a Russian initiative at the Genoan summit, G8 leaders adopted a joint statement proclaiming anti-terrorist activities one of its priorities.

At the summit in Kananaskis, Canada, in June 2002, G8 partners agreed to entrust Russia with G8 rotating Presidency in 2006. The move testified to the partners' recognition of Russia's growing role in the modern world.

At the Evian summit, in June 2003, Russia for the first time took part in preparing all financial and economic documents for the summit. To develop these positive trends and to help stabilise the global economy, Russia proposed early payment of part of its debt to the Paris Club.

At the Sea Island summit, in June 2004, Russia continued strengthening the role of the G8 in collective decision-making. Russia initiated the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism. The Convention creates preconditions for completing work on the UN draft comprehensive convention on international terrorism.

At the Gleangles summit, in June 2005, Russia played a significant role in achieving solutions to African development and global climate change.
- Russia's contribution to fight against famine and dangerous diseases in Africa and Asia has also increased.
- So far, Russia has written off or undertaken to write off $11.3 billion of African countries' debt, of which $2 billion will be written off within the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative.
- The Russian Federation helps to finance the Global Fund to fight AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis. Its contribution in 2002-2006 is $20 million, of which $12.5 million has already been paid. Russia also took part in financing the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, contributing $8 million in 2003-2005.

A successful first Presidency in the Group of Eight is one of Russia's foreign policy priorities. The work on the contents and organisation of the summit is progressing successfully. Priority issues during Russia’s G8 Presidency will be international energy security, the fight against contagious diseases and education.