Lithuanian Foreign Minister Starts Visit To Russia

Foreign Minister of Lithuania Antanas Valionis, who is also the chairman of the committee of ministers of the Council of Europe, will start a working visit to Russia today. A source in the Lithuanian embassy reported to RBC that he would negotiate bilateral relations between Russia and Lithuania and some aspects of economic partnership between Lithuania and the Kaliningrad region of Russia. In addition, Valionis will inform his Russian counterpart Igor Ivanov about the agenda for a meeting of the Council of Europe's committee that will be held on May 2 and 3, 2002 in Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania. In addition, the Lithuanian Foreign Minister will meet with Russian Deputy PM Viktor Khristenko, Minister Vladimir Yelagin and envoy on human rights Oleg Mironov, chairman of the State Dumas committee for international affairs Dmitry Rogozin and Press Minister Mikhal Lesin. They will discuss the dynamics of democratic reforms in Russia, legal reforms, the observance of human rights in Russia, the situation in Chechnya and the struggle against terrorism as well as some aspects of the Council of Europe's activities.