President Halonen met G8 leaders in St. Petersburg

President of the Republic of Finland Tarja Halonen met leaders of G8 countries in St. Petersburg on July 15, 2006. President Halonen and her husband, Dr Pentti Arajärvi, attended the informal dinner of the G8 summit at the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Issues relating to global energy security, education and infectious diseases were at the top of the summit agenda. Also the current situation in Middle East was discussed in St. Petersburg.

Russian president Vladimir Putin with spouse received President Halonen and Dr. Arajärvi in St. Petersburg. Photo: www.g8russia.ru

G8 is an unofficial forum of the leading industrial countries, Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and the United States. At the St. Peterburg summit Finnish Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen represented the European Union, the Presidency of which is now run by Finland. The EU was also represented by José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission.