* A government session will be held, to include discussions on power sector reform.
* Chairman of the Federation Council's commission for the upper chamber's activities Vladimir Kulakov will meet with Amelita Armit, the director of the Asia and Eastern Europe Programs for the Canadian Parliamentary Center (12:00 p.m.).
* The State Duma will host:
- a session of the lower chamber's council (10:00 a.m.);
- a meeting between State Duma Speaker Boris Gryzlov, chairmen of Duma committees and heads of regional legislatures (2:30 p.m.);
- parliamentary hearings on Russia's policy on Russians living abroad organized by the committee for CIS and compatriot affairs (10:00 a.m.).
* The Strategic Research Center will host a Russian-U.S. roundtable on the protection of intellectual property rights with Russian Economic Development and Trade Minister German Gref, President of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Russia Andrew Somers, U.S. ambassador to Russia William Burns, and representatives of the Kremlin administration, federal ministries, and departments (4:00 p.m.).
* RIA Novosti will host the following news conferences:
- on prospects of uniting the democratic parties (1:00 p.m.);
- on the topic, "Is the Russian Vodka Museum leaving Russia?" with founder of the unique collection, historian Alexander Nikishin (11:00 a.m.).
* The second international anti-terrorism media forum will open under the auspices of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (December 8-10). Representatives of the CSTO, the CIS, OSCE, UN, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, media, non-government organizations, and law enforcement agencies will attend (11:00 a.m.).
* A roundtable on the national government projects will be held (1:00 p.m.).
* The Federal Political Council of the liberal party Union of Right Forces (SPS) will hold a session on the results of recent Moscow Duma elections (3:00 p.m.).
* The Central House of Journalists will host a news conference on the nationwide contest of businesswomen "Success", and an international conference on the increasing importance of women's roles (12:00 p.m.).
* A news conference on the protection of the rights of Russian citizens abroad, children adopted by foreigners, and Russian inmates of foreign prisoners will be held (11:00 a.m.).
* The presentation of the results of the EU TACIS (Technical Assistance for the Commonwealth of Independent States) project on the fight against AIDS/HIV in Russia will be held (5:00 p.m.)
* The World Bank and the Independent Social Policy Institute will give a news conference on the WB report on problems of premature mortality and demographic decline in Russia (2:00 p.m.).
* The Izvestia media center will host:
- a news conference on the topic, Blood transfusion: risks and necessity (11:00 a.m.);
- a new plan of the Transdnestr conflict resolution as an alternative to Viktor Yushchenko's plan with leader of the Ukrainian Progressive Socialist Party Natalya Vytrenko (3:00 p.m.).
* The Russian Supreme Court will consider the appeal of Issa Gaparkhoyev sentenced to 15 years in prison by Ingushetia's Supreme Court for perpetrating a terrorist attack on Russian servicemen in July 2003.
* The Tverskoy Court will issue a verdict on the case of 39 members of the National Bolshevik Party accused of seizing an office of the presidential staff.
ST. PETERSBURG
* The Russian Bond Congress-2005 will open (December 8-9). Representatives of the Finance Ministry and major investment banks will discuss stock market activities.
YEREVAN
* Federation Council Speaker Sergei Mironov will arrive in Armenia on a two-day official visit. He will meet with Armenian President Robert Kocharyan, Speaker of the country's parliament Artur Bagdasaryan and Garegin II, Catholicos of All Armenians.
BRUSSELS
* Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will attend sessions of the Russia-NATO Council and the North-Atlantic Partnership Council at the level of foreign ministers
ROME
* The Olympic flame will be delivered to Italy from Greece for the 2006 Winter Olympics.
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