MOSCOW, June 4 (RIA Novosti) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov's visit to Italy on June 6-7 will focus on Russia's cooperation on European security with the EU and NATO and preparations for a G8 summit at Gleneagles (UK).
Italy is "one of Russia's closest partners in Europe," official spokesman for the Russian Foreign Ministry Alexander Yakovenko said. Russia and Italy are developing cooperation in all spheres, he added.
"The situation in Europe, implementation of the roadmaps on the four common Russia-EU spaces, the OSCE reform, Russian-NATO cooperation and new architecture of the European and international security will be on the visit's agenda," Yakovenko said.
According to him, Lavrov and his Italian counterpart Gianfranco Fini will discuss preparations for a meeting of G8 foreign ministers in London on June 23 and the G8 summit in Gleneagles on July 5-6.
"The ministers will also focus on the situation in the Balkans, Middle East, Iraq, Iran and Central Asia in the light of combating new challenges and threats," Yakovenko said.
At issue will be also the UN and Security Council reforms given the broad international discussion and preparations for the Summit-2005 in New York due on September 14-16, he added.
Lavrov is scheduled to meet with Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Angelo Sodano, the official spokesman said.
