RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER TO VISIT STOCKHLOM ON MARCH 9








STOCKHOLM, March 7. /RIA Novosti correspondent Lyudmila Bozhko/. Russia's Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov, during his one-day visit to Stockholm on March 9, will discuss a wide range of international issues with the European Union leadership.


	The programme of the visit includes a short meeting with Sweden's Prime Minister Goran Persson, currently holding the European Union chairmanship, Swedish Foreign Minister Anna Lindh, Secretary-General of the Council of the European Union, EU High Commissioner for Foreign Policy and Security Javier Solana, European Commissioner for External Affairs Chris Patten and Belgian Foreign Minister Louis Michel. Belgium will hold the rotating presidency of the European Union in the second half of the year. 


	During meetings between Ivanov and high-ranking representatives of the European Union mutual relations and cooperation between the EU and Russia will be discussed, as well as the developments in the Balkans, the Caucasus and the Middle East.


	It is not ruled out that the sides will also raise issues related to the forthcoming visit by Russian President Vladimir Putin to Sweden.