Syrian Foreign Minister Visits Russia

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem will meet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (pictured, file photo) (epa) March 13, 2006 -- Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem is opening a visit to Moscow today for talks with Russian officials about the situation in the Middle East.

The Russian Foreign Ministry has said Russia plans to press Muallem on the need for Syrian cooperation with the United Nations inquiry into the February 2005 assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

The UN Security Council has twice accused Syria of failing to cooperate fully with the investigation, which has implicated Syrian intelligence officials in the bomb attack that killed Hariri and 20 other people.

Muallem is expected to meet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on March 14.

(AP, ITAR-TASS)