08/30/1998 13:40:29 G7 leaders feel vital Russia sticks to reform path

LONDON, Aug 30 (Reuters) - G7 leaders feel that it is in all

their interests to ensure that Russia sticks to the path of

reform to get through its present economic crisis, a spokesman

for Britain's Prime Minister Tony Blair said on Sunday.

He was commenting after Blair telephoned the leaders of

Germany and Japan to discuss the situation in Russia.

"There is a clear feeling among the G7 leaders that it is in

all our interests to make sure Russia gets through this crisis

and it will best do so by sticking to the reform path," a

spokesman at Blair's London residence said.

Blair, currently a guest of Queen Elizabeth at the royal

family's Balmoral residence in Scotland, touched base by phone

with German Chancellor Helmut Kohl and Japanese Prime Minister

Keizi Obuchi, as well as Austrian Chancellor Viktor Klima and .

Britain is current chairman of the G7 nations and Blair had

already spoken to President Bill Clinton on Friday when both men

agreed that economic reforms were vital.

Blair said on Friday Russia must move ahead with reforms

designed by international institutions if it is successfully to

overcome its financial crisis.