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Russia, Eritrea FMs to exchange views on key int'l and regional problems

MOSCOW, February 17. /ITAR-TASS/. The Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Russia and Eritrea, Sergei Lavrov and Osman Saleh, during talks here on Monday are to exchange views on key international and regional problems, Russia's Foreign Ministry announced.

The sides are expected to discuss the situation at the "flashpoints" of the African continent, devoting special attention to the conflict situations in the Horn of Africa, in Southern Sudan, the Central African Republic, the Sahara-Sahel region, as well as in the Middle East, in Syria and Afghanistan, in particular.

During the forthcoming talks, the sides are also to prioritize a discussion of prospects for a further development of Russia-Eritrea trade-and-economic cooperation and matters connected with creating favorable conditions in Eritrea for the investment activities of Russian business organizations.

Officials of the sides during the meeting are to sign a protocol on consultations between the two Foreign Ministries.

The Eritrean Foreign Minister is scheduled to meet with Mikhail Margelov, Russia's special presidential representative for cooperation with African countries on Monday and with Alexander Romanovich, Deputy Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the State Duma lower house of the Russian parliament, on February 18. On February 19, Saleh is to meet with Valery Pak, Russian Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Ecology, and Georgy Petrov, vice-president of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Saleh is also to converse with Veniamin Kaganov, Russian Deputy Minister of Education and Science. Eritrea's Foreign Minister will tour a number of the Russian capital's landmarks: the Red Square, the Kremlin, the Soviet Army Museum, and the Central Museum of the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945 on Poklonnaya Hill.

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