Meeting of G-8 finance ministers opens in Halifax

A two-day meeting of finance ministers from the leading Western nations and Russia has begun its work in the Canadian city of Halifax. Alexei Kudrin, Russia's Vice-Premier and finance minister, represents the country at the meeting.

As the Canadian Finance Ministry's spokesman Jean-Michel Catta has said, the finance ministers will discuss, in particular, the issue of preventing and settling international financial crises. The Canadian spokesman noted that such meetings have traditionally paid close attention to this topic in the last three years. The finance ministers will examine the situation in this field, and also various measures to solve financial crises.

The meeting will also focus on measures, which the countries are taking to struggle against the financing of terrorism. The Canadian Finance Ministry's spokesman also noted that the meeting would discuss Russia's economic and financial development. Alexei Kudrin will make a respective presentation at the meeting.

Jean-Michel Catta said that within the framework of the meeting much attention would be paid to the issue of rendering assistance to the poorest countries of the world. This topic, according to the Canadian Finance Ministry's spokesman, will, perhaps, be one of the main issues since it has been included in the agenda of the forthcoming G-8 summit, due to take place on June 26-27 in Kananaskis (the Canadian province of Alberta).

The ministerial meeting will be over on Saturday. According to Jean-Michel Catta, a final statement will be published upon its completion.