G-8 Foreign Ministers to consider situation around North Korea, Afghanistan and Middle East

The G-8 Ministers of Foreign Affairs will consider in Paris the situation around North Korea, Afghanistan and the Middle East.

As a high-ranking official of the Foreign Ministry of Russia told RIA Novosti on Friday, these themes will be touched upon by the Ministers within the framework of the consideration of regional problems. The diplomat pointed out, that after the talks between the USA, the DPRK and China, which were held in Beijing, it is necessary to decide "what to do further on and how to prevent the DPRK leadership from making negative moves." RIA Novosti's interlocutor also said that the situation in West Asia would be discussed. In particular, this concerns Afghanistan and the situation around it. In his opinion, now it is necessary to start the process of economic development of Afghanistan.

Furthermore, the problem of the drug threat emanating from Latin America will be for the first time discussed at the meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs within the bounds of the preparations for the G-8 summit in Evian. According to the high-ranking official of the Foreign Ministry, "the secret services of the G-8 countries are concerned over the fusing of drug traders with the political movements of the Leftist parties in that region." He also noted that recently drugs from Afghanistan have appeared in New York, and narcotics from Colombia have appeared in Moscow.

Middle East settlement will be the next question to be discussed by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs in Paris. In the opinion of the RIA Novosti interlocutor, it is necessary to put the "road map" in operation as soon as possible. "Every day of delay may cost many years," he noted. The discussion of the question of "building relations with the Arab world" will also be a new element within the preparation of the summit in Evian. RIA Novosti's interlocutor said that many leaders of Arab countries would be invited to the G-8 summit in Evian.

The meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the G-8 countries will be held in Paris on May 22-23.