Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Flies to Brussels to Meet US Secretary of State

Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Igor Ivanov on Thursday flew to Brussels where he will meet US Secretary of State Colin Powell.

The Foreign Minister of Russia and the Secretary of State of the USA will discuss the Iraqi crisis on direct instructions of Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President George W. Bush.

The agreement on this meeting between Ivanov and Powell was reached during their telephone conversation on March 31st.

The US Secretary of State arrived in Brussels from Ankara. In Brussels, Powell will take part in a session of the NATO Foreign Ministers and will also meet his counterparts from the European Council.

Igor Ivanov also intends to have a Brussels meeting with the British Foreign Secretary, the Belgian Foreign Minister and the Canadian Secretary of State for External Affairs.

On Thursday evening, the Russian Foreign Minister will fly to Paris.