Brussels, 05/07/2006 (Agence Europe) - Union representatives from G8 countries, including the Secretary General of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), John Monks, is meeting the Russian president Vladimir Putin on 6 July in Moscow. Within the perspective of the forthcoming G8 Summit on 15-17 July in St Petersburg the unions: will ask president Putin to introduce questions on work and jobs in the G8 debates “as transversal issues” in the summit focusing on energy, education and health; they will also raise human rights abuses in Belarus and call on Mr Putin, as acting president of the G8 to use his influence to get workers' fundamental rights respected; call for more intensive follow-up to past summit commitments on aid and development; table the suggestion that a G8 working groups should be established to track progress on tackling the AIDS pandemic.
In a press release John Monks affirmed, “In view of current European concerns, We want to see long-term energy plans brought forward within a sustainable development framework. We need to achieve the three-pronged objectives of energy security and environmental protection, compatible with full employment.”