The anti-terror cause will have pride of place on the agenda. A package is to be prepared for an upcoming G8 summit in Sea Island. The documents will enhance the effect of anti-terror teamwork-in particular, with practical measures to fight transport and biological terrorism.
The conferees will analyse foreign political issues to appear on the Sea Island agenda.
Russia is willing to engage in constructive work on an US-Italian initiative to enhance African countries' peacekeeping potential. Peacekeeping forces established and trained with G8 contribution are to act under the United Nations' aegis and with authorisation of its Security Council. Russia deems that point essential, said Mr. Yakovenko.
The Foreign Ministers will compare and coordinate their stances on Iraqi, Afghan and Mideastern developments.
They will analyse principal initiatives and documents being drafted for the Sea Island summit-among them, prospects to establish partnership with countries of the Greater Middle East. The initiative aims to encourage countries in that part of the world in their modernisation drive and as they tackle political, social and economic problems stocked up with the years. Russia shares that goal. Here is the point from which Moscow proceeds: reforms are mainly up to the Greater Middle East itself, while the G8 is to help those countries as they deem necessary. A dialogue will not start before they say out loud that they are willing to engage in it. Steady regional development is indissolubly linked with settling crucial security issues. In the foreground here is settlement progress of the Arab-Israeli conflict and of the Iraqi crisis, stressed Mr. Yakovenko.
The Washington conferees will also discuss buttressing international arrangements against mass destruction weapon proliferation-in particular, in the regional aspect-as the world is stepping up nonproliferation efforts.
Donald Tsang, head minister of the Hong Kong administration, will appear in Russia on an official visit, May 15-18, on the host country's government invitation. It was passed to the Hong Kong top as Russia's Foreign Minister was visiting it, July 2002. The upcoming visit confirms both Parties' desire to step up bilateral contacts, Mr. Yakovenko went on to say.
It will be a first-ever visit to Russia by one of the two Hong Kong supreme officials, he pointed out.
Mr. Tsang is second on the Hong Kong ruling hierarchy, next to its top executive. Appointed to the post in 2001, he is also leading a governmental ad hoc team for constitutional issues.
