MOSCOW, March 16 (RIA Novosti) - G8 leaders will adopt an agreement on a global energy security system at their July summit, Russia's industry and energy minister said Thursday.
"The meeting [in St. Petersburg] will produce a credible and objective document, designed for the long term, which should receive international support including outside the G8 countries," Viktor Khristenko said in opening remarks at a meeting of G8 energy ministers.
Khristenko said the summit, slated for July 15-17 in St. Petersburg, Russia's second city, could be a milestone in efforts to create a global energy security system.
President Vladimir Putin proposed creating a system to ensure uninterrupted energy supplies and resource access for all countries, amid international concerns about growing energy dependence on Russia and its reliability as supplier.
"Unreliable access to energy, which has been evident from recent short- and long-term challenges and threats, has influenced the well-being of the entire world community," Khristenko said, adding that energy security could only be ensured by joint efforts.
He said energy security depends on sufficient supplies, good economic planning, proper infrastructure and environmental factors.
Moscow is hosting a two-day series of meetings of energy ministers from the Group of Eight leading industrialized nations. Energy-related issues will dominate the agenda of talks, as Russia has declared energy security the No.1 issue for its G8 presidency in 2006.
