U.S. President Barack Obama will hold separate talks with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan, and French President Nicolas Sarkozy at the Group of Eight (G8) summit next week in France, the White House announced Friday. In addition to attending the G8 summit of industrialized countries at the French seaside resort of Deauville, Obama will visit Ireland, Britain, and Poland next week as part of a European tour. The White House said the meeting with Medvedev is part of the Obama administration's effort to improve relations with Russia. With Kan, Obama will discuss U.S. cooperation with Japan following its devastating March 11 earthquake and tsunami. Before departing France for Poland on May 27, Obama will meet with summit host Sarkozy. "We obviously coordinate very closely with France on the full range of issues before us, including our efforts in Afghanistan and Libya," Rhodes said. "Similarly, there's a great interest in coordination with regards to the events in the Middle East and North Africa." The G8 is comprised of the United States, Japan, Germany, France, Britain, Italy, Canada, and Russia.
