May 19 preview

MOSCOW

* The first round of full-format Russia-U.S. talks on a new strategic arms reduction treaty will be held (until May 21)

* Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg will meet with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin

* First Deputy Federation Council Speaker Alexander Torshin will meet with the chairman of the Thai Senate, Prasobsook Boondech (10.00 a.m.)

* The State Duma will host the following events as part of its Days of the Chechen Republic program (ul. Okhotny Ryad, 1, tel.: (495) 692-80-00):

- The official opening ceremony of the Days of the Chechen Republic in the State Duma with State Duma Speaker Boris Gryzlov and Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov attending

- Top Russian lawmakers will meet with the official Chechen delegation (10.30 a.m., tel.: 692-27-39)

- A news conference by Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov, Deputy State Duma Speaker Alexander Babakov and the speaker of the Chechen parliament, Dukuvakhi Abdurakhmanov (2.00 p.m.)

* RIA Novosti (Zubovsky Bulvar, 4, tel.: (495) 637-50-19, 645-64-72):

- A news conference by the head of the Federal Service for Financial Markets, Vladimir Milovidov, "The Russian financial market during the global crisis: risks and regulations" (11.00 a.m.);

- A TV link between Moscow and Chisinau on the results of recent parliamentary polls in Moldova and future presidential elections (3.00 p.m.)

* A meeting of SCO anti-drug officials (Smolenskaya Ploshchad, 12)

* An international exhibition, 'Integrated Safety and Security Exhibition (ISSE) 2009', will open (until May 22, All-Russian Exhibition Center, pavilion 75, tel.: (495) 212-09-36)

MAGNITOGORSK, Western Urals

* The vice president of the European Commission, responsible for enterprise and industry, Gunter Verheugen, and Russian Industry and Trade Minister Viktor Khristenko will pay a visit

MINSK, Belarus

* Fifth international exhibition of weaponry and military equipment, MILEX-2009 (until May 22)

BERLIN

* Fourth international conference, Russia - European Union Energy Dialogue: Gas Aspect

BARI, Italy

* Third festival of Russian art will be held (until May 24)

BANGKOK, Thailand

* The last court session on the extradition case of Russian suspected arms trader Viktor Bout

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