Defence Secretaries of Russia and Great Britain Meet in St. Petersburg to Discuss Defence Cooperation

Russian Defence Secretary Sergey Ivanov and British Defence Secretary Geoffrey Hoon will meet today in St. Petersburg for talks on international safety and questions of further development of the relationship between Russia and Great Britain in the field of defence. During Mr Hoon's visit, he will also meet with the head of the Leningrad military district, General Gennady Bobrishev.

Today Mr Hoon and Mr Ivanov have left the Peter and Paul Fortress by helicopter for Peterhoff, where informal talks are taking place. They will then return to the city at hold a short informal press conference in the Officer's House. On July 17, Mr Hoon will place a wreath on the Piskarevsky memorial cemetery. A broad cultural programme is then planned. In the evening of the 17th, Mr Hoon will leave St. Petersburg.