New SIPRI paper on Ukraine's small arms and light weapons exports
G8 background
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G8 introduction
Background on the G8 Group of Industrialized States
The heads of state or government of the major industrial democracies have met annually since 1975. Six countries met at the first summit, held at Rambouillet, France in November 1975 (France, the Federal Republic of Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States). Canada participated in the meeting for the first time in 1976 and a representative of the European Community participated for the first time in 1977.
In 1989 15 the leaders of 15 developing countries met with the G7 leaders before the Paris Summit. Between 1991 and 1994 the Soviet Union and then Russia participated in a post-summit meeting with the G7. From 1994 to 1998 Russia and the G7 leaders met in what was referred to as the P8 (or Political 8) at which everything other than financial issues were discussed. After the 1998 Birmingham Summit Russia has participated in all discussions in what has become the G8.
Background
Structure and procedures
Summit documents
Global Partnership documents
The European Union and the G8 Global Partnership
Any reproduction of text and data is authorized only by permission, SIPRI July 2004.