WASHINGTON DOWNPLAYS UPCOMING G-7 MEETING. U.S.

Deputy Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers said yesterday, September 9, that deputy finance ministers from the Group of Seven countries are unlikely to make any concrete decisions on aid to Russia when they meet in London next week. Summers’ remarks square with those made a day earlier by Japanese Finance Minister Kiichi Miyazawa–who also said that not much could be expected from next week’s London meeting. Summers also maintained the West’s firm line on the question of additional aid for Russia’s ailing economy. “Until the political authorities [in Russia] indicate the direction in which they wish to go it is very difficult to calibrate an international response,” Summers was quoted as saying. (Reuter, AP, September 9)

The West has voiced its unwillingness to provide additional aid for Russia until Moscow makes clear its intention to maintain the country’s economic reform course. Russia’s current political turmoil could mean that the country will still have no government–and no credible economic policy or recovery plan–when the G-7 officials meet in London.

RUSSIA AWAITS NORTH KOREAN MISSILE LAUNCH.