Russia's Foreign Minister to attend Russia-NATO Council session in Madrid

Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov is to fly over to Madrid June 3, subsequently attending a session of the Russia-NATO Council at foreign-minister level there.

The main program of Ivanov's official Spanish visit is to begin June 4. The Russian Foreign Minister will take part in the Russia-NATO Council's session tomorrow.

Indicatively enough, but the idea of holding this session was suggested by Ivanov himself during the afore-said Council's May 13 session in Moscow at ambassador level.

According to the Russian Foreign Ministry's officials, the Madrid session would be expected to sum up the first 12 months of the Council's work in line with the 20-country format. The above-mentioned 20-country concept was established on the basis of the Rome declaration's provisions dealing with the new quality of Russia-NATO relations. Moreover, those taking part in the Madrid session plan to chart subsequent cooperation prospects within the organization's framework.

The concerned parties also intend to focus on regional issues, including the situation in Afghanistan, the situation in and around Iraq, as well as military aspects of European security. All these issues will be discussed in the context of enhancing arms-control regimes and enacting the CFE (Conventional Forces In Europe) Treaty as soon as possible.

The Russia-NATO Council's session at foreign-minister level is to pass a number of documents.