Israeli Foreign Minister to visit Moscow

Upcoming contacts between Russian officials and Israel's Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom in Moscow prove that the Russian-Israeli relationship is becoming rich and dynamic, Alexander Yakovenko, official spokesman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, said in a RIA Novosti interview.

"Our countries are engaged in a regular political dialogue, with no taboo items on its agenda," Yakovenko said. According to his account, the two countries have been developing trade, economic and scientific cooperation, cultural links, and personal contacts.

"However, the vast potential of bilateral cooperation is still underused, and when Silvan Shalom comes we shall discuss ways to fill our links with new qualitative substance," the spokesman stressed.

The Israeli foreign minister arrives in Moscow on June 9 and leaves on June 11. He and his Russian counterpart Igor Ivanov are expected to discuss Mideastern settlement, the situation around Iraq, and other topical international problems.