BERLIN, March 18. /ITAR-TASS/. Amid the signing of an agreement upon accession of Crimea to Russia, the Russian Federation still remains a member of the G8, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Tuesday.

She recalled that currently the case in hand is the suspending of preparations by leading western states to hold the G8 summit in Sochi in June. “Apart from that, no further decisions have been taken,” the German leader noted.

Merkel added that, as for the G8, “there is no further (progression of events)”.

Meanwhile, Italy’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Federica Mogherini also stressed that “the G8 format is not abolished”. “In recent days, partners from the big seven already took the decision on suspending participation in preparing the G8 summit in Sochi. However, this refers to suspending work in the big eight format, but not to the abolishment of the format itself,” Mogherini said.

She stressed that “efforts are made to confirm this format”.

Head of the Italian diplomatic service also said that an option was discussed to send “a major OSCE mission comprising hundreds of observers”.

Earlier, French Minister of Foreign Affairs Laurent Fabius states that western states agreed to suspend Russia’s participation in G8. “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.