New head of French Foreign Ministry to discuss Jacques Chirac's forthcoming visit to Russia in Moscow

Preparations of President Jacques Chirac's coming visit to Russia will be discussed during the Moscow visit by the new head of the French Foreign Ministry.

RIA Novosti earned from the Russian Foreign Ministry's Information and Press Department on Tuesday that the visit will be held on July 7-8. The Foreign Ministry explained that Dominique Galouzeau de Villepin will come to Russia on a working visit for the first time following the formation of France's new right-centrist government.

The Russian Foreign Ministry reported that the programme of the French Minister's visit includes talks with Igor Ivanov, head of the Russian Foreign Ministry, meetings with Vladimir Rushailo, Russian Security Council Secretary and Sergei Ivanov, Russian Defence Minister.

Apart from that,"a discussion of topical international problems and of bilateral relations and, in particular, the activity of the Russian-French Council for security issues under the chairmanship of the foreign and defence ministers, which is being set up in keeping with a decision of the presidents of the two countries, is planned during the visit, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in conclusion.