Russia's Foreign Minister on Russia-U.S. summit preparations

The level of preparing documents for a Russian-American summit meeting due in Moscow is "very high", said Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov upon arrival in Reykjavik on Tuesday. The Russian chief diplomat said that later in the day he will meet with US Secretary of State Colin Powell. "It will be our last get-together before the visit of the American president to Moscow," said Igor Ivanov. During this meeting they will "check time and exchange opinions on the main documents prepared for the Moscow summit", he said. At the same time, additional coordination on some matters is required, he noted, such as a joint statement to be adopted at this summit meeting. Igor Ivanov also said that he is going to discuss with Colin Powell "current themes", including the Middle East situation and the preparations for an international conference on the Middle East settlement. "We have to outline our further steps to be made in the light of the recent meeting of The Four in Washington," said Ivanov.