BERLIN, April 1, 2004 (RIA Novosti) - The proposal of United States congressmen to exclude Russia from the G-8 is a pre-election political stunt, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.
"I do not think that it is serious. It in many respects is connected to internal politics during the pre-election period," said Mr. Lavrov.
On Wednesday, the U.S. House of Representatives International Relations committee accepted resolution 336, which calls for Russia's G-8 membership to be suspended.