RUSSIA * FOREIGN * MINISTER * IVANOV * SWEDEN * PARLIAMENT








STOCKHOLM, March 10, 2001. /RIA Novosti correspondent/ -- Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov drew the attention of the Speaker of the Swedish parliament Birgitta Dahl to the problems of the Russian-speaking population in the Baltic states. RIA  Novosti was told about that today by official spokesman for the  Russian Foreign Ministry Alexander Yakovenko. 


	At their meeting on Friday, Igor Ivanov and Birgitta Dahl discussed issues related to the arrangement of a meeting of Russian President Vladimir Putin with the heads of state and government of the European Union member-countries which has been  scheduled for March 23 in Stockholm. 


	The main goal of the Russian Foreign Minister's visit to Stockholm is negotiations with the European Union's leading trio, consisting of Swedish Foreign Minister Anna Lindh (who heads the leading bodies of the European Union in the first six months of this year), Belgian Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Annemie Neyts-Uyttebroeck, the European Commission's envoy for foreign relations Christopher Patten, and Secretary General of the EU Council Javier Solana. 


	At these negotiations Igor Ivanov announced that Moscow was  interested in developing partnership relations with the European Union. According to the Russian Foreign Minister, Russia is  called upon to play its role as "an integration bridge" between Europe and Asia. 


	During this visit the sides also discussed cooperation between Russia and the European Union in the sphere of disarmament and raising nuclear and radiation safety in the  North-West of Russia. They also considered the problems of  settling the situation in the Balkans, the Middle East and Trans-Caucasia, and also the Afghanistan developments. -O- (kos/kri)  


	10/03/01    15:33