RUSSIAN, U.S. PRESIDENTS WILL DISCUSS CONFLICT SETTLEMENT EFFORTS

MOSCOW, February 23 (RIA Novosti) - The situation in the Middle East, Kosovo, Afghanistan, developments in Iraq after the elections to the interim national assembly, and possible bilateral efforts to bring the situation on the Korean peninsula to normal will be central at the Russian-American summit in Bratislava, according to Sergei Prikhodko, the Russian president's aide.

"The leaders will pay serious attention to relations with NATO, the OSCE that is facing structure- and system-related problems," said Mr. Prikhodko.

A Kremlin official told RIA Novosti that the situation in Afghanistan would be discussed in the context of drug trafficking, the problem that worries Russia a great deal.

In terms of Iraq, the two presidents will focus on what steps should be taken after the elections in the country.

The Kremlin official referred to President Putin who described the Iraqi elections as "a step forward." This is what Moscow bases its assessments of the situation in Iraq on, although it has not changed its opinion on what was the cause of the present developments in the country.

"This [elections] could have probably been done much better, but ... later. However, we do not know what could have happened over that period. Therefore, this was a difficult step forward. I believe the president will not give assessments to the elections," said the official.

"The question is how to help Iraqis cope not solely with terrorism, but above all revive their ruined economy and ensure at least some security and the return of those who are ready to help from abroad, how to help them launch the political process," added the official.

The Kremlin official did not rule out that Russia's relations with the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries could be touched on at the summit. "If the U.S. raises regional conflicts in the CIS, we will discuss them," said the source.

"The global community is engaged, to a greater or lesser degree, in the settlement of some of the CIS conflicts like in Nagorny Karabakh (the OSCE Minsk group), and the Transdniestrian Region. There are differences on peacekeepers' stay in some of Georgia's areas. I believe these issues can be raised at the summit," said the source.

He said Russia did not intend to discuss Ukraine's election results with the Americans. "We talk directly to Ukraine," he said.

The official said the U.S. might also mention Kiev's plans to revise about 3,000 privatization deals.