PM Kasyanov to go to Norway after Murmansk

Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov will make working trips to the Murmansk region (Russia's region on the Kola peninsula beyond the Polar circle) to be followed by a visit to the Kingdom of Norway, the government's press service reported.

On January 9th, Kasyanov will hold a conference on the development of the Murmansk transport junction, on the Yamal ice-breaker. On Friday, January 10th, he will gain an insight into the research and productive activity of the Arktikneftegazrazvedka association in charge of geosynoptics on the Arctic shelf.

Kasyanov's visit to Murmansk will be followed by a trip to Norway. The Storskog settlement of Norway will host a working meeting between Kasyanov and Norwegian Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik. After this, the Russian premier will participate in the opening of a new Russian customs and border checkpoint Borisoglebsky.

On the same day, a jubilee session of the council of the Barents/Euroarctic region to mark the 10th anniversary of its foundation will take place in the Norwegian city of Kirkenes.

On Saturday, January 11th, Mikhail Kasyanov will meet Finnish Prime Minister Paavo Lipponen. On the same day, he will have another meeting with the prime ministers of the council of the Barents/Euroarctic region, to yield a declaration.