Colin Powell is likely to deal with Russia's attitude toward Iran's IAEA position, said Konstantin Kosachev. Besides, the United States is expected to raise the issue of the so-called Khodorkovsky case (former oil-company YUKOS boss Mikhail Khodorkovsky, now in custody, is charged by the Prosecutor-General's Office with tax-evasion and fraud) and the situation in Chechnya. According to the MP, the situation has markedly improved in the republic after presidential elections." For its part, Russia intends to review the situation in Afghanistan and Iraq, said Kosachev.
"It is clear now that due to American policies the situation in Iraq is in the impasse and not accepted by an Iraqi majority. Apart from this theme being top on the UN agenda, Russian-American dialogue is certainly a timely and rewarding event, said Kosachev.
This year is certain to bear the imprint of presidential elections to be held in Russia and the United States, said the MP.
"It is the duty of politicians and diplomats to do so that bilateral relations continue to develop in 2004, which ought not to become a year of lost opportunities."
