RIA Novosti, ST. PETERSBURG – The Group of Eight industrialized nations is united on how to approach the Iranian nuclear problem, an aide to the Russian president said Friday.
Sergei Prikhodko said the leaders of the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Canada, Japan and Russia were against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
"I am certain that the approach of all the leaders without exception on this issue is the same in the strategic sense," he said.
After being asked to comment on the situation around Iran and the possibility of a tough statement being adopted on the issue, he said: "Whether the G8 leaders agree about the need for a tough statement on Iran would probably be more appropriate to ask the heads of state after the summit."
He also said North Korea’s nuclear problem had been discussed at a recent meeting of G8 foreign ministers and would also be raised at the summit.
U.S. President George Bush arrived for bilateral talks in St. Petersburg Friday. The leaders of France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, Canada and Japan are expected to arrive in Russia’s second city for the three-day G8 summit Saturday.
