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G8 Membership important for Russia - poll

MOSCOW. Dec 25 (Interfax) - Seventy-one percent of Russian citizens think Russia's membership of G8 is important for the country, with only 11% disagreeing with this.

Forty percent of respondents surveyed in a poll by the Public Opinion Foundation said that Russia is a fully-fledged member of G8, while 35% think its plays a secondary role in the organization.

The poll, conducted among 1,500 respondents in December, suggests that only 28% of Russian citizens (49% of respondents with a higher education) knew that Russia is to host the G8 annual summit in 2006. Fifty-seven percent of those polled said that this would be a major step to draw Russia and West closer together, while 16% said it would not.

Fifty-four percent of respondents said that Russia's presidency of G8 in 2006 would benefit the nation and 3% said it would not."

Respondents who believe that presidency of G8 will benefit Russia argue that this will enhance Russia's authority and influence, and 20% said more countries will listen to Russia.

Seventeen percent of those surveyed hope Russia's presidency will promote economic development and indirectly enhance citizens' living standards. Some said that Russia will have a chance to demonstrate to the world that it is "a civilized nation."