British Deputy Prime Minister Focuses On Afghan Situation On Moscow Visit

RIA Novosti learnt in the British embassy on Monday that the situation in Afghanistan would be given priority in negotiations to be conducted in Moscow by Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott. The embassy said that economic issues and climatic changes would also be high on the agenda during the talks in the Russian capital. At the same time, "the development of the situation in Afghanistan," it was made clear, would be the focus of the negotiations. Downing Street had earlier announced that Prescott's visit would be used to further strengthen the international coalition to combat terrorism. Prescott will be in Moscow on October 15th and 16th. He will meet Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov, Deputy Prime Minister Viktor Khristenko, Chairman of the Russian Weather Center Alexander Berditsky and Chairman of the State Duma Ecological Committee, Vladimir Grachev. Following the conclusion of the talks in Moscow, Prescott will leave for Kiev on Tuesday afternoon, where he will meet Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma and Prime Minister Anatoly Kinakh.