Russian foreign minister to visit Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan

Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov will visit Iran, Afghanistan and Tajikistan from March 11-13.

During his visit to Iran on March 11-12, Ivanov will meet with his Iranian counterpart Kamal Kharazi to discuss Russian-Iranian cooperation and international and regional affairs, including the Iraq problem. The situation in Afghanistan and measures to broaden bilateral and international measures to combat terrorism and the illicit drug trade will be addressed, the Foreign Ministry reports.

On March 12, Ivanov will arrive in Kabul to discuss further cooperation between the two countries, as well as Russian assistance in Afghanistan's state and economic development..

On March 12 and 13, Ivanov will visit Tajikistan. International problems and Russian-Tajik cooperation in various areas will be discussed, the Foreign Ministry said.