G8 FMs to discuss vital intl policy issues prior to summit

Tokyo, June 26 (Itar-Tass) - Financial aid to Afghanistan, the
pre-election crisis in Zimbabwe, disputed issues regarding the Iranian and North Korean nuclear programmes will be among the main subjects to be discussed at a meeting of the foreign ministers of the Group of Eight.

The foreign ministers of Great Britain, Germany, Italy, Canada, Russia, France, the United States and Japan will begin in the ancient Japanese capital Kyoto on Thursday two-day consultations within the framework of preparations for the G8 summit on Hokkaido in July.

The G8 ministers also intend to give considerable attention to the
situation in the Middle East and in the Sudanese Darfur.

Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Denisov will represent Russia at the
meeting. Officials of the European Union will also take part in it.

Meetings of the heads of financial, law enforcement, energy, social,
ecological and other departments of the G8 countries were held before the
Kyoto meeting that is ending the preparation for the summit. The sides
coordinated positions on the key problems within their competence in order
to prepare the foundation for the forthcoming discussion of the heads of state.

The meeting of the G8 leaders will be held on the northern Japanese Hokkaido Island on July 7-9.