RUSSIAN DEFENCE MINISTER TO TAKE PART IN CONFERENCE IN USA

MOSCOW, April 5, 2004 (RIA Novosti) - Russian Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov is expected to take part in a conference on the military's role in the campaign against terrorism, due at the USA's naval base in Norfolk, Virginia, on Monday, the Russian defence ministry told RIA Novosti.

"The conference will take place in the Russia-NATO Council format," said the ministry.

Issues related to cooperation between Russia and NATO against international terrorism will dominate the agenda of the conference.

"The situation in Iraq and Afghanistan will also be discussed at the conference," according to the ministry.

Mr Ivanov is also expected to hold meetings with NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer and the defence ministers of the NATO member-countries.

The next day after the conference Mr Ivanov will hold a series of meetings with senior US officials in Washington. The Russian minister will meet US Secretary of State Collin Powell, the president's National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice and Pentagon chief Donald Rumsfeld.

Mr Ivanov is returning to Moscow on April 7.