EU representatives to hold talks with Russian FM

Top European Union diplomats were to meet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Wednesday to discuss international matters including Iran's nuclear program and tensions over the situation in several Central Asia republics.

Lavrov was to host EU External Affairs Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner and EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana as well as British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, whose country holds the rotating EU presidency, and Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik of Austria, which takes over next year.

The meeting was expected to focus on Russia-EU relations and issues including Belarus, Uzbekistan, Moldova, Iran and the Mideast peace process, the EU's executive Commission said in a statement.

It said the Commission would welcome Russia's acceptance that the EU should participate as an observer in talks on a settlement in Trans-Dniester, mostly Russian-speaking province in Moldova, the AP reports.

V.Y.