Merkel opposes G-8 expansion

St Petersburg, July 17 (UNI) German Chancellor Angela Merkel today said there was no need to enlarge the G-8 to include the outreach countries invited to the summit, here.

The G-8 member-states were likely to work out issues with the assistance of other states at the next G-8 summit, to be held in Germany, she said at press conference.

''This is not a matter of expanding the G-8,''the chancellor added, reported Interfax.

She added there was no need to change the present format, pointing out it had become a tradition that other states visit G-8 summits.

Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin had said Russia would back India, China and Brazil to be included in the G-8, if the proposal came from other member-states.

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