The Russian Information Agency Novosti begins Hotline coverage for Saturday, June 26, 2004.
MOSCOW
* Alu Alkhanov, Chechnya's Interior Minister, addresses a news conference on current developments in the republic and the anti-terror effort.
* The political party, Union of Right Forces, holds congress to sum up debates within the party, and blueprint its strategies up to 2007.
* A commemorative plaque will be unveiled in honour of Boris Barnet (1902-1965), one of Russia's and the world's foremost film directors. The gala is one of 26th Moscow international film festival events.
* The All-Russia Exposition Centre hosts a national action, All to Fight Drug Aggression, on the world anti-drug day.
ST. PETERSBURG
* Antonio Maria Costa, executive manager, UN board for narcotic substances and crime, is visiting the city. He will meet Mayor Valentina Matvienko to discuss practical partnership to prevent addiction and cure and rehabilitate addicts. Victor Cherkesov, Russia's federal drug control service chief, is accompanying him on the visit.
CHISINAU, MOLDOVA
* Donald Rumsfeld, US Secretary of Defence, pays a short visit to the Moldovan capital en route to Istanbul for an upcoming NATO summit. While in conferences on the country's top, Mr. Rumsfeld intends to thank Moldova for support of the anti-terror cause.
AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND
* Alexei Gordeyev, Russia's Agriculture Minister, is in New Zealand on a routine visit. He and Murray Sherwin, Director General of New Zealand's Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, will together address a news briefing on farming issues.
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