Ksenia Naka. The Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe believes that the restoration of Russia in the format of the "Big eight" (G8) prematurely because of the situation in Ukraine, about it, he said at a mutual press conference with Chancellor Angela Merkel on the first day of the week in Tokyo, told the Agency Kyodo.

"Great eight" has turned into "seven" once G7 2014 decided not to send their leaders to the summit of informal club of developed countries in Sochi and gathered without the participation of Russia in Brussels. This decision was taken against the background of the Crimean events. Now in the "group of seven" includes the following countries: Germany, USA, Canada, Japan, France, UK, Italy.

The head of the Ministry of foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation S. Lavrov Century said on this issue that the Russian Federation had not been excluded from the G8, because "eight" is just a club, which brings together leaders of major countries to discuss issues of mutual interest, and " not some kind of structure, where you can expel, and no procedural mechanism for the exception does not happen.

"Given the situation in Ukraine, currently not an atmosphere to conduct meaningful discussions (in this format - as amended)," said Abe concerning the restoration of Russia's G8.

Abe said that Japan and Germany emphasis on the fact that " Russia has played a constructive role in the resolution (conflict - edit) by diplomatic means ".

During a meeting with German Chancellor, held in Tokyo, Japanese Prime Minister also said that " there are a large number of questions and we want as partners who share common values, even harder to cooperate for their permission.

sections: Politics