NATO Secretary General Arrives in Moscow

NATO Secretary General George Robertson arrives in Moscow Monday to take part in the meeting of the Russia-NATO Council on the ambassadorial level to be held Tuesday, May 13, a RIA Novosti correspondent was told at the Foreign Ministry of Russia.

The Russia-NATO Council will consider practical matters of the Council's activities to implement the Rome Declaration on a new quality of the Russia-NATO relationship, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said.

Topical issues of security in the Euro-Atlantic region will also be among the items on the meeting's agenda.

Taking part in the meeting will be Russia's Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov, Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov and NATO Secretary General George Robertson, the spokesman said.

"The meeting of the Russia -NATO Council on such a level will be held in Russia for the first time since the time when the Council was set up on May 28, 2002, in Rome, a RIA Novosti correspondent was told in the NATO information bureau.

According to the bureau, 20 members of the Russia-NATO Council plan to discuss the preparations for the upcoming meeting of the Council on the level of Foreign Ministers, due in June this year and also to consider the Council's working program for 2003.

The Council members will also meet with the leadership of the upper house of Russia's parliament, the Federation Council.