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G8 summit in Sochi to minimise expenses – Peskov

A decision to this effect was taken by President Vladimir Putin

MOSCOW, February 4 (Itar-Tass) – The G-8 summit in Sochi in 2014 will minimise expenses of a host country and give a new lease of life to the Olympic facilities, presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Itar-Tass.

The G-8 summit will be held under Russia’s presidency in Sochi in 2014.

A decision to this effect was taken by President Vladimir Putin. He signed a decree, “On the Preparations for the Chairmanship of the Russian Federation in the Group of Eight in 2014”, on Monday.

According to the decree, which has been placed on the Kremlin website, chief of staff Sergei Ivanov has been appointed as chairman of the organising committee for preparing Russia’s presidency in the Group of Eight.

“The reasons for choosing Sochi are obvious,” Peskov said. He noted, “The events related to the G-8 summit in 2014 require the infrastructure to accept guests, ensure security and make residents’ life comfortable. In addition, it is necessary to make the work of the summit fruitful. The infrastructure, which is being created in Sochi to hold the Olympic Games, is practically ready and corresponds to these requirements.”

Earlier, the G-8 summit in 2014 was planning to be held in Skolkovo. However, speaking at a press conference in December 2012, Putin said this variant had been rejected. “The analysis proves that if the summit is held in Skolkovo, it will be necessary to choose Moscow’s area, where approximately 400,000 people live, in order to ensure safety of all heads of delegations and their staff. It will be necessary to give badges to everyone,” the Russian president said.

He explained, “This is conditioned by certain complications related to traffic of special transport, let’s say of fire-fighting services and ambulances.”

In addition, Putin said the Skolkovo facilities were expected to be finally completed by 2016. “It is wrong to hold the G-8 summit on the construction platform,” he added.