UNESCO Director-General in Moscow

UNESCO Director-General Koichiro Matsuura who arrived in Moscow on the day before on a visit which will last till November 26 will meet with Russia's president Vladimir Putin.

As a source in the Kremlin said, it is supposed that during a conversation the sides will discuss "some questions of interaction of Russia and UNESCO, including those relating to the Organisation's contribution to the struggle against international terrorism".

It will be Vladimir Putin's third meeting with Koichiro Matsuura this year - in February Russia's president met with the Director-General in course of his visit to France, and in May - during the events held to celebrate the 300th anniversary of St. Petersburg.

Besides that, Matsuura will participate in a meeting of the Council on Culture and Art under the president of the Russian Federation.

"The UNESCO head will for the first time have a chance to directly and 'from first hands' familiarise herself with the topical problems of Russian culture and to voice her opinion of the prospects for development of cooperation with Russian institutions and creative organisations", the agency's interlocutor noted.

Furthermore, it is expected that Matsuura will inform the Council members of the decisions of the 32nd session of the UNESCO General Conference, paying special attention to the projects planned by the Organisation, in which Russian experts and cultural figures could take part.

The programme of the UNESCO Director-General's stay also provides for a visit to the State Historical Museum and participation in the opening of the Law and Internet scientific conference to be held at the Russian Academy of Civil Service.

The ceremony of conferring the title of Honorary Professor of Moscow State University (MGU) upon Koichiro Matsuura will take place in the course of her meeting with the MGU students and teachers.