Expert opinion

	03.12.06 Victoria Panova G8 research group, University of Toronto, Director for Russia
	03.12.06 Mona Bricke German NGO Forum Environment and Development
	03.12.06 Nigel Martin Montreal International Rorum (FIM)
	02.12.06 John Kirton Head of G8 Research Group, University of Toronto
	02.12.06 Regina Gunter Head of the WWF Germany

News

Russia's G8 initiatives include financial literacy - Kudrin

ST. PETERSBURG, June 10 (RIA Novosti, Maxim Nichiporenko) - One of Russia's initiatives during the country's presidency of the Group of Eight leading industrialized nations is to improve the level of the population's financial literacy, the Russian finance minister said Saturday.

Russia this year holds the rotating presidency of the G8 - Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States - and will host the annual G8 summit for the first time in mid-July in St. Petersburg.

Alexei Kudrin said financial literacy among populations was needed for countries' financial and other institutions to operate successfully.

"74% of the population said they were more afraid to fill a customs declaration and work with other financial documents than to go to the dentist," he said.

Kudrin also cited the United States as an example of a country where 80% of the population were unable to fill in pension documents. "Not everyone is able to work independently with documents that ensure their future welfare," he concluded.

Expert opinion

	02.12.06 Halter Marek Le College de France
	02.12.06 Olivier Giscard d’Estaing COPAM, France
	02.12.06 Mika Ohbayashi Institute for Sustainable Energy Poliсy
	02.12.06 Bill Pace World Federalist Movement - Institute for Global Policy
	01.12.06 Peter I. Hajnal Toronto University, G8 Research Group