Yuri Luzhkov to visit Bulgaria, Macedonia and Yugoslavia

Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov will visit Bulgaria, Macedonia and Yugoslavia this week.

On Monday morning, December 9th, Luzhkov will arrive in Sofia. He is scheduled to meet with Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov, Prime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha and Sofia Mayor Stefan Sofianski. Luzhkov will officially open the House of Moscow in Sofia's centre, presenting political, economic and cultural organisations of the Russian capital. The National Culture Palace of Sofia will host a presentation of Yuri Luzhkov's book "The Way to an Effective State" and "Russian Laws of Parkinson", published in the Bulgarian language.

On Tuesday, December 10, Moscow Mayor will visit the town of Pleven to participate in the celebrations of the 125th anniversary of Bulgaria's liberation from the Ottoman Yoke as a result of the Russian-Turkish War (1877-1878).

On Wednesday morning, December 11, Yuri Luzhkov will arrive in Skopje, the capital of Macedonia. He is expected to meet with Macedonian President Boris Trajkovski, Prime Minister Branko Crvenkovski and Skopje authorities. They are to sign a programme of cooperation between Moscow and Skopje for 2003-2006.

After that, Yuri Luzhkov will fly to Belgrade. He is scheduled to meet with Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica, Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic and Yugoslav parliamentary speaker Dragoljub Micunovic. Moscow and Belgrade mayors Yuri Luzhkov and Radmila Hrustanovic are to sign a programme of cooperation between the two capitals for 2003-2004.

On Thursday the Moscow delegation is to visit the Russian church and the "Russian House" in Belgrade and St. Savva's Church, which is under construction. In addition, a trip to the Ikarbus bus plant is scheduled.

On Thursday evening Luzhkov is to fly to Moscow.