…AS MOSCOW AWAITS VISIT BY ARGENTINE PRESIDENT.

Russia is also looking to strengthen its ties with Latin American countries. Yesterday in Moscow, government delegations from Argentina and Russia met under the auspices of a bilateral commission on trade, economic and scientific cooperation. Representatives from the two sides said that Russia and Argentina hope soon to raise bilateral trade turnover from US$250 million, the figure for 1997, to some US$3 billion annually. That was the level of trade between the two countries in the 1970s.

Yesterday’s meeting comes on the eve of a visit to Russia by Argentine President Carlos Menem. He is to be accompanied by a large group of Argentine businessmen. During Menem’s visit, the two sides are expected to sign agreements on investments and tourism. (Itar-Tass, June 23) Russian Foreign Minister Yevgeny Primakov visited Argentina last November as part of a longer official tour of Latin America.

TERRITORIAL ROW NOT DISCUSSED AT RUSSIAN-JAPANESE TALKS.