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Lavrov: G20 should be transparent and take into account interests of all countries

“The G8 or the G7 has no sufficient representation to consider global economic problems with assurance and work out corresponding recommendations,” the Russian minister said
Photo ITAR-TASS/Mikhail Metsel
Photo ITAR-TASS/Mikhail Metsel

ASTANA, September 12 (Itar-Tass) - The G20 should be transparent and meet the interests and concerns of all countries, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.

Addressing students of the Eurasian University on Thursday, Lavrov said: “The G20 existed long ago. The G20 gathered at the level of ministers and experts. They did their work until the 2008-2009 crisis started. The countries believed it necessary to use this structure and bring it to a new level.”

“The G8 or the G7 has no sufficient representation to consider global economic problems with assurance and work out corresponding recommendations,” the Russian minister said.

“The first summit was held in 2010 and it took decisions related to the reform of the monetary system to allow the IMF voice to be heard,” Lavrov said.

“Of course, the G20 is not an official organisation, but this is an informal club. It includes the countries what GDP reaches 90 percent. We won’t forget that there are 180 U.N. member-countries, which depend on turbulences in world economy and what interests should be taken into account,” Lavrov said.

“The G20 believes that the recommendations cannot be directly applicable. They should be approved by corresponding structures, including the World Bank, the IMF and the World Trade Organisation (WTO),” he said.

“We focused on key problems to work out measures, which will help create favourable conditions for increasing investments in the world economy and creating new jobs. The plans, which were coordinated in St Petersburg, will be discussed. Decisions will taken then. The fact that the leading economies agreed to take measures to make the tax system transparent and to stop offshore abuses proves that the G20 members intend to deal with problems,” Lavrov said.

At the same time, he said, “The G20 has no right to look as it handles the world’s fate.”

“When we worked out the agenda we coordinated it with other G20 members. We presented it at the U.N. and garnered its support. Then our representatives made it public in St Petersburg,” the minister said, adding, “We should act in such way in the future. Our work was lauded by the G20 non-members that is why I hope that next presidency will do its best to make the G20 transparent.”

Lavrov said the Kazakhstani president “took part in the G20 summit in St Petersburg. Nazarbayev represents the country, which is involved in integration processes on the post-Soviet space”.