France's Prime Minister To Visit Russia On October 22-23

Matters of interaction in the struggle against international terrorism will be in the focus of negotiations between the Russian leadership and French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin, Alexander Yakovenko, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman, said in a RIA Novosti interview when commenting on an upcoming official visit to Moscow by the French prime minister, due on October 22 through 23. Among other themes to be discussed in Moscow are -- strategic stability and security in the context of discussions, including at the United Nations, on the antimissile defense treaty, prevention of spread of weapons of mass destruction, globalisation, developments in the Balkans, Middle East and around Iraq. "I would like to note that on the majority of key international issues the approaches of Russia and France are close or coinciding," said the Russian diplomat.