RUSSIA'S FOREIGN MINISTRY RECEIVES KUWAITI MINISTER, APPOINTS MINISTERIAL ASSISTANT FOR OIC CONTACTS

MOSCOW, August 4 (RIA Novosti) - Abdallah al-Matuq, Kuwait's Minister of Awqaf (Religious Endowments) and Islamic Affairs, and First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, is visiting Moscow. Today, he met in conference with Valeri Loschinin, the host country's First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, reports Russia's Foreign Ministry press and information department.

Dominating the agenda were prospects for closer Russian contacts with the Organisation of the Islamic Conference, or OIC. The diplomats also exchanged opinions on topical global and regional issues, and the present state and future of bilateral relations.

"The Parties pronounced for further strengthening of contacts in the public and humanitarian fields and, on the whole, for closer mutually lucrative partnership in the various spheres," ministerial PR say in a statement.

In another report, the department announces the appointment of Abdul-Khakim Sultygov assistant to Russia's Minister of Foreign Affairs. Supervision of Russian contacts with the OIC will be prominent among his duties.

Mr. Sultygov was formerly President Vladimir Putin's special envoy for human rights in Chechnya.