Tatyana Firsova. Participants Bavarian summit of the group of seven, From participation in which the Russian Federation is in fact suspended, scared Moscow new restrictive measures because of the situation in Ukraine.

Although German Chancellor Angela Merkel says That the different issues, its priority was not to speak in the vein of " What if ", which is what she did this time. The summit was held in Alpine ELMAU castle And ended in the middle of the day in the pouring rain.

"We are ready if necessary (We really don't want to toughen the punishment accordingly if the situation so requires. But We believe That it is our responsibility to do everything in order to make progress in the political process Minsk, " - said Merkel correspondents at a press conference on the results of the summit. Mentioned on sanctions concerning Russia in connection With the Ukrainian conflict.

Russia in the summit is not involved in the heart of the debate is not - so said the leaders of the countries before And during the discussion. Anyway, the 1st question at a press conference the Chancellor of the reporters asked about the Russian Federation - Merkel asked about the participation of the Russian Federation in a different format international cooperation. The G7 leaders are going to give up And pay attention That Russia is a serious world issues: confrontation in Syria, the Iranian nuclear dossier is not to solve it.

The thesis of hypothetical possibilities to put pressure on the Russian Federation stronger recorded on the 6th page of the summit outcome. While Merkel yesterday on behalf of all summit participants linked the duration of the penalties imposed the necessity of implementing the Minsk agreements on Ukrainian settlement. Here, too, the subjunctive sounds - punishment depend on "Minsk" And will be lifted if Minsk will be implemented.

"We repeat That the length of sentences should be clearly linked to full implementation by Russia of the Minsk agreements And to respect Ukrainian sovereignty. At the same time, We are ready to take further restrictive measures to increase the price Russia must pay if her actions so require, " said the communiqu?.

What about the resurgence of "membership" of Russia in the club, then the Chancellor replied evasively leaders " seven ", she said, And in such a society myself feel good And grow until not assume.

"On the one hand We have the G20 format And there are other important economies (world). But in General We are happy with the prevailing atmosphere here, " said Merkel. In her expressions, the format of "seven" and " justified ".


"Seven" was formally expanded to the G8 at the expense of Russia in 1998, but actual participation in the negotiating format was started earlier. For the First time in the negotiations on the sidelines of the London summit, Mikhail Gorbachev participated in 1991. In the past year against the background of events in Crimea Authorized club decided not to participate in the G8 summit in Sochi, and gathered in Brussels. Russia in 2014 just presided over the group of eight Summit was obliged to place in Sochi.

Officially, the G7 Participants were told That they did not want to sit jointly With Russia as long as long as the country does not change its policy in relation to the Crimea. Now in the group of seven includes Germany, USA, Canada, Japan, France, UK, Italy.

Germany in recorded history format for the sixth time the Summit takes " seven ". In 1978 And 1985 event under the leadership of Germany was held in Bonn in 1992 in Munich, in 1999 in Cologne. The last "German" Summit in 2007 I took on some of the oldest resorts in Europe, on the Baltic sea Heiligendamm.

The history of the "group of seven" dates back to 1973, then was soveshenee so-called "group of five" With the participation of financiers from the US, Germany, France, UK And Japan. 1st financial meeting in this format was held in France at the Palace of Rambouillet. In 1986, the group was joined by Italy And Canada.

The term "big Seven" entrenched in the Russian language because of an erroneous interpretation of the G7 as the Great seven (big Seven) instead of the Group of seven (group of seven).

sections: Politics