KUALA LUMPUR, July 6: The D8 group of developing nations must tackle the issue of rising fuel and food prices at its summit here this week, Malaysian Foreign Minister Rais Yatim said on Sunday.

Iran on Saturday rejected Malaysia’s proposal to discuss the spiralling price of crude oil at the D8 talks, saying it was not the appropriate forum, the state Bernama news agency reported.

Iranian official Suleiman Pour said that, unlike the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, “the D8 is an economic organisation to enhance economic cooperation among member states,” Bernama quoted him as saying.

But Rais said the rising cost of oil was pushing up food prices worldwide and it would be “unrealistic” to exclude it from the meeting.

“In respect of the matter relating to increasing cost of oil and food, this will be included in the deliberation this afternoon,” he said as foreign ministers convened ahead of Tuesday’s summit.

“And if the leaders of governments will approve, it will become part of the Kuala Lumpur declaration,” he told reporters.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmedinijad, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and Malaysian Premier Abdullah Ahmad Badawi will attend Tuesday’s talks.

The group also includes Bangladesh, Egypt, Nigeria and Turkey which will be represented by ministers.

The group’s leaders are expected to endorse a 10-year trade roadmap aimed at boosting economic cooperation and trade among member nations.—AFP