PARIS, March 18. /ITAR-TASS/. Western countries agreed to suspend Russia’s participation in the Group of Eight (G8) leading world economies, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said on Tuesday.

“As for G8, we decided to suspend Russia’s membership,” Fabius said live on radio station Europe-1. “All seven leading world powers, except Russia, are expected to meet,” the French foreign minister stated.

Meanwhile, Fabius noted that Russia “is not an enemy.” “For centuries France and Russia were partners and remain to be as such,” the minister noted.