Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov meets US Secretary of State Colin Powell

Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov and US Secretary of State Colin Powell have begun a tete-a-tete meeting during a working lunch.

According to RIA Novosti, the heads of the foreign policy departments of Russia and the USA will discuss possible joint actions in settling the situation on the Korean Peninsula. Igor Ivanov will inform Colin Powell of the results of his negotiations with North Korean leader Kim Jong-il.

It is also expected that Colin Powell will tell his Russian counter-part about the results of his negotiations with the leaders of Pakistan and India on the situation around Kashmir.

Quite unexpectedly for all, Colin Powell met, before the plenary meeting of the regional forum, with North Korea's Foreign Minister. The informal meeting lasted about 15 minutes.