The Russian Information Agency Novosti begins Hotline coverage for Wednesday, April 27, 2005.
CAIRO-TEL AVIV
* Russia's President Vladimir Putin is making a routine visit to Egypt.
* After finishing his visit to Egypt Vladimir Putin will visit Israel.
MOSCOW
* The Ministry of Regional Development holds an enlarged-attendance expert conference on federal policies for Russian regions' progress, Vladimir Yakovlev, Regional Development Minister, chairing. The conference comes as part of efforts to blueprint Russian regions' social and economic development strategies. 11.00
* The Ministry of Natural Resources makes a public introduction of the national paper, "On the State of Lake Baikal and Measures to Protect It". 11.00
* The Meschansky district court will announce its verdict on the criminal case of Mikhail Khodorkovsky, Platon Lebedev and Andrei Krainov. 12.00
* Alexei Ulyukayev, Central Bank of Russia First Deputy President, addresses a news conference on, "Budget Blueprints for Social and Economic Development, 2006: How to Curb the Inflation?" 11.00
* The federal Chamber of Commerce and Industry hosts a roundtable on currency integration within the EURASEC-Eurasian Economic Community of Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan. 14.00
* The Star Township near Moscow offers a news conference on the return of the 10th International Space Station permanent crew-Russia's Salizhan Sharipov and Leroy Chiao of the USA. 12.00
* The Diplomatic Academy under Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs hosts a research-and-practical conference on, "A Change of Elites and Elections in the Post-Soviet Area". 10.00
* A news conference gathers, dedicated to the establishment of a Society for the Encouragement of Russian Poetry, and of the Poet national award. 13.00
* The State Tretyakov Gallery holds a press preview of the exposition, "Dedicated to the 60th V-E Day Anniversary: Paintings, Sculptures and Drawings from State Tretyakov Gallery Depositories". 16.00
* The Manege central exposition hall has opening galas of an exposition, "A School of Watercolor Painting: Sergei Andriyaka". That will be a first Manege show in the edifice rebuilt after a disastrous fire. 17.00
* An international marathon running race takes start at the Marshal Georgi Zhukov monument, in the city's heart. The circular Moscow-Brest-Moscow race has its route crossing martial glory sites, and is dedicated to the 60th V-E Day anniversary. To involve veteran athletes and amateur athletic club activists of Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Kazakhstan, the marathon will have its finish, May 8, at the Poklonnaya Hill WWII memorial, Moscow. 11.00
* A voyage round the world under the motto, "56 days along the 56 degree latitude", sees a public introduction. The voyage starts July 1 to last into August 25 along Moscow's parallel. The itinerary crosses Russia, Canada, the UK, Denmark and Sweden. 11.30
PARNU, ESTONIA
* The Baltic Assembly and the Nordic Council open their 5th joint session, April 27-29.
DUSHANBE, TAJIKISTAN
* President Emomali Rakhmonov of Tajikistan departs for Afghanistan on an official visit, April 27-29.
FRANKFURT-AM-MAIN
* Negotiations are going on, within the Prague Process, for Armenian-Azeri conflict settlement. Taking part are Elmar Mamedyarov, Azerbaijan's Minister of Foreign Affairs; Vardan Oskanyan, his Armenian counterpart; and the Russian, US and French co-chairs of the Minsk OSCE group for Karabakh. The conferences will involve the co-chairs and, alternately, one of the Foreign Ministers. Messrs. Oskanyan and Mamedyarov are not to have eye-to-eye talks.
VENICE
* A series of art shows, concerts and roundtables is opening under the motto, "Russia-Italy: An Encounter in Venice", as part of a dialogue forum of Russian and Italian civil societies. April 27-28.
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