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IMPOSSIBLE TO DISCUSS MANY ISSUES WITHOUT RUSSIA, SAYS PUTIN

SEA ISLAND (Georgia, U.S.), June 11 (RIA Novosti) - After the end of the G8 summit, Russian President Vladimir Putin told reporters that it was impossible to discuss many issues, including international security issues, without Russia.

"We are not rushing anywhere, nor are we running away from something," Mr. Putin said in response to a question about his opinion of various statements to the effect that Russia lacked the capability to participate in such forums. "However, it is impossible to discuss many issues, including international security issues, without Russia, which is a nuclear power."

The summit devoted 70% of its time to discussing international security issues, Mr. Putin noted. "Russia considers international security issues to be very important," he told Russian reporters.

According to him, economic development issues were also discussed at the summit. "We think it is important to know about all global economic plans because these plans will influence the Russian economy," Mr. Putin said.

None of the G8 leaders objected to admitting Russia into the World Trade Organization, nor did anyone voice doubts about it, Mr. Putin said.

He said that he informed his colleagues about Russia's economic situation during the summit and specific economic development plans.

Mr. Putin stressed that Russia intended to join the WTO on profitable terms and "none of the G8 leaders objected to the need for Russia to be admitted to the WTO, nor did anyone voice any doubts about this."

Mr. Putin praised the idea for admitting China and India into the G8.

"The Sea Island summit did not examine practical aspects of this issue," Mr. Putin noted.

At the same time, Mr. Putin said that he had a positive opinion of the idea because China and India were large countries with huge populations and dynamic economies.

"They are our traditional partners," Mr. Putin said.

Mr. Putin said that he hoped that his visit to Japan next year would be filled with real content.

Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and Mr. Putin discussed the possibility of his Japanese visit next year. Both leaders will meet at the APEC summit in Chile.

"We can discuss quite a few issues," he said. "We have not forgotten the peace treaty problem [Russia and Japan failed to sign a full scale peace treaty after the Second World War because Moscow and Tokyo still have to solve the problem of the so-called "northern territories," i.e., the South Kurile archipelago, which was ceded to the Soviet Union after the war] and we will be preparing rather seriously for the visit." The Russian and Japanese Foreign Ministries will do their best to fill this visit with real content, Mr. Putin said.