Russian Defence Minister Ivanov To Pay Official Visit To London

Russian Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov will come to Great Britain for an official visit on December 19, reports the press service of the Russian Defence Ministry. Ivanov will arrive in London from Belgium after a session of the Russia-NATO Joint Permanent Council. As is expected, the Russian Defence Minister will conduct negotiations in London with Secretary of State for Defence Geoffrey Hoon and will also meet with Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Jack Straw. It is supposed that in the runup to the working visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to Great Britain, the Russian Defence Minister will be received by British Prime Minister Tony Blair. According to diplomatic sources, Ivanov's visit is expected to result in signing a number of documents, including a plan for measures to develop cooperation between the Defence Ministries of Russia and Great Britain in 2002.