Yuriy N. Isakov, co-discussant of the G8 study, has since 2004 been Ambassador-at-large and Special Envoy on the Russian Presidency in the G-8. In 2000-2004 he was Deputy Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the United Nations, covering a host of bodies including ECOSOC, CSD, OCHA, UNICEF, UNDP and UNFPA. In 1996-2000 he was Deputy Director of the Department of International Organisations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation in Moscow. In 1990-1996 he held senior economic positions in the Permanent Mission of the USSR/Russian Federation to the United Nations in New York. In 1986-1990 he was attached to the Department of International Economic Organisations in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the USSR, Moscow. His early diplomatic career focussed on posts related to South Asia. Mr Isakov has his university degree from the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO, 1971) and was born in Ufa, Russian Federation. His favourite leisure pursuits include white water rafting, travelling and reading.