Russian Foreign Minister in Greece for talks on Iran

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Monday begins a two-day visit to Athens, where he will hold talks with Greek officials on energy cooperation and Iran's nuclear program, Greece's Foreign Ministry said.

Photo: Russian Foreign Minister in Greece for talks on Iran

Lavrov will meet Prime Minister Costas Caramanlis and Foreign Minister Petros Molyviatis, the ministry said.

They are expected to discuss Iran's nuclear program, including Moscow's call Monday for Tehran to resume its moratorium on uranium-enrichment activities. Iran says its program is for producing electricity, but the U.S. and some of its allies allege it is aimed toward producing weapons.

Lavrov and Greek officials were also to discuss bilateral cooperation in the energy sector, following a visit Thursday to Athens by Alexei Miller, head of Russian gas giant Gazprom. Miller said the company was investigating cooperation with Greece in both the gas and oil sectors.

Other issues on the agenda for Lavrov's visit included upcoming talks on the future of U.N.-administered Kosovo, the Cyprus problem and Russia's relationship with the European Union, the Greek Foreign Ministry said, reports the AP.

I.L.