Russia's CGS to discuss mil coop'n in Oslo Wed

OSLO, February 16 (Itar-Tass) - General of the Army Nikolai Makarov,
Chief of the General Staff (CGS) of the Armed Forces of the Russian
Federation (RF), arrived in Norway on Tuesday for a working visit.
A Norwegian Defence Ministry officer has told Itar-Tass that the RF
CGS is to hold talks with General Harald Sunde, Commander -in-Chief of
Norway's Armed Forces, and Defence Minister Grete Faremo. Makarov is also
to meet with Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Store. All the meetings
are to be held in a closed-door mode.
The Norwegian Defence Ministry officer said the talks would focus on
cooperation and further development of contacts that had been established
between the two countries.
An official at the Press-Service and Information Directorate of the
Russian Defence Ministry has told Itar-Tass, "The sides are to examine,
specifically, the state of and prospects for military cooperation between
the two countries, the development of the military-and-political situation
in the Arctic, the coordination of efforts to ensure security in Northern
Europe, and refinement of interaction within the framework of the
Russia-NATO Council.".

Russia, Italy FMs to discuss int'l agenda items Wed.

ROME, February 16 (Itar-Tass) - The Ministers of Foreign Affairs of
Russia and Italy, Sergei Lavrov and Franco Frattini, are to hold talks
here on Wednesday to discuss international agenda items of current
importance, including the situation in the Middle East. Lavrov is a member
of the Russian delegation, headed by RF President Dmitry Medvedev, who
will officially declare at a ceremony the commencement of a Year of the
Russian Language and Culture in Italy.
Frattini's press secretary Mauricio Massari, when presenting a list of
subjects for discussion at the upcoming talks, said, "We share a wide
range of interests, from political dialogue to industry and energy".
"The present Year of Culture, which envisages hundreds of cultural
events in both countries, gives an additional important impetus to and
emphasizes the importance and intensity of bilateral relations," Massari
said.
"Our common interests include matters relating to European security,
cooperation in Afghanistan where a no easy transitional process is
evolving, the process of settling the situation in the Middle East where
Russia and Italy also share common interests and, therefore, can play an
important role for the establishment of stability," Massari said in
conclusion.

.China FM to discuss polit, econ coop'n matters in Yerevan.

YEREVAN, February 16 (Itar-Tass) -Yang Jiechi, Minister of Foreign
Affairs of the People's Republic of China (PRC), is to hold talks here on
matters concerning political and economic cooperation with Armenia. He
arrives here on Wednesday for a two-day official visit at the invitation
of the republic's Foreign Ministry.
The Chinese Minister is to meet with Armenian President Serge
Sargsyan, Prime Minister Tigran Sarkisyan, and Foreign Minister Edvard
Nalbandyan. Yang will also visit the see of the Armenian Apostolic Church
at St Echmiadzin, where he will be received in audience by Garegin II,
Head of this Christian Church, Supreme Patriarch and Most Holy Catholicos
of All Armenians.
An official at the republic's Foreign Ministry here has pointed out,
"Since the moment of the proclamation of Armenia's independence, this is
the first arrival of a high official of the PRC here. During the upcoming
meetings the sides are to discuss matters aimed at strengthening and
broadening mutual relations between the two countries, the relations that
underwent development in the recent period. They will also consider a wide
range of regional and international matters".