Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov held talks in Ireland with the leading troika of the European Union. Iraq was also discussed. EU High Representative for Foreign Policy and Security Javier SOLANA told Vremya Novostei newspaper columnist Elena SUPONINA about the position of the Europeans in Dublin. -- Russia stands for holding an international conference on Iraq. Do you, Mr. Solana, have any confidence that such an event will help this country?

The Department of the Prosecutor General's Office in the Ural Federal District began an investigation into a criminal case initiated on the fact of embezzlement of funds from the budget of the Chelyabinsk region. According to regional prosecutor Anatoly Bragin, the audit concerns funds allocated to the State Unitary Enterprise Yuzhuralgeologorazvedka. Disappearance of 2.5 million rubles. was discovered last summer by the Accounts Chamber of the Chelyabinsk Region.

CLUBS King Crimson Festival. The first two concerts in a series designed to introduce current and former members of the legendary group to the Moscow public. The TU project is coming this weekend - - Trey Gunn (war guitar, electronics) and Pat Mastelotto (drums, electronics). TU is half of King Crimson's lineup for the last twelve years. Both musicians are the brightest innovators both in the technique of playing their instruments and in the art of combining electronics and hard rock.

The State Duma did not put an end to climate agreements Yesterday's parliamentary hearings in the State Duma on the ratification of the Kyoto Protocol could have been the death knell for international agreements on the control of emissions of harmful substances into the atmosphere. There was every reason for assumptions about the inevitability of a fatal outcome from the protracted discussion on the protocol.

The team is preparing for the main start of the season Today our team will play the first match of a series of matches for third place in the Eurotour. The Russians will play the first match at the CSKA Ice Palace, and the return match awaits them in the Czech Republic on Sunday. To be fair, it must be admitted that few of the players on the Russian team care about the final place in the Eurotour.

Kazakhstan wants to independently supply gas to Europe Preparations for the implementation of the gas project at the Karachaganak field have entered the most difficult stage. According to the press service of the government of Kazakhstan, this issue was discussed at yesterday's meeting of the cabinet of ministers of the republic.

A series of films by Anatoly Pristavkin starts on the Culture TV channel The press center of the State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company "Culture" held a press conference dedicated to a new series of documentaries about the life of prisoners.

Kuchma remained above the political fray Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych, who in Ukraine is considered the most likely successor to President Leonid Kuchma, will participate in the presidential elections on October 31 this year as a single candidate from the parliamentary majority. This decision was made on Wednesday by the majority leaders with the blessing of Leonid Kuchma and in his personal presence. Viktor Yushchenko remains the main rival of Viktor Yanukovych.

FIRST APRIL 19 , MONDAY Prevention on the channel until 12.00 12.00, 15.00, 18.00, 3.00, 5.00 News 12.20 "BRANCH". Hood. movie 14.10 City of Women 15.20 “SHORE OF A DREAM”. Series 16.20 Guess the melody (S) 16.50 Big wash 18.20 Rescuers 18.50 “CLONE”. Series 19.50 Million Laundry 20.00 Wait for me 21.00 Time 21.30 “STREETS OF BROKEN LAMPS.” Series 22.40 Criminal Russia 23.10 Seekers 23.40 Star Factory 0.00 “Film business. For adults only." Doc.

Prime Minister Made a number of personnel appointments in the government. In particular, he appointed Andrei Kashevarov deputy head of the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS). Mikhail Fradkov also appointed Vladimir Starodubov Deputy Minister of Health and Social Development, releasing him from his previously held position of First Deputy Minister of Health. In addition, Yuri Kosarev was relieved of his post as chairman of the Social Insurance Fund.

The world's largest financial company, Citigroup, began 2004 with a low start. After calculating the quarterly net profit, the corporation's analysts were surprised by the results achieved, which exceeded the forecast. As Bloomberg reports, the company's net income increased by 28.5% to $5.27 billion, and shares gained a total of $1.01 (over the past fiscal year, which ended in March, their value rose by 50% ).

American Congressman Thomas Lantos still managed to visit Moscow. The visit almost fell through due to delays with a Russian visa. Lantos is seeking to exclude our country from the G8, citing the fact that there is little democracy in Russia. Officially, no one invited the congressman to Russia. He arrived in Moscow at the invitation of the American Ambassador Alexander Vershbow, and not as a politician, but as a human rights activist.

Adjara is preparing for the fact that Tbilisi will try to establish control over the autonomous republic by force. The Minister of Internal Affairs of Adjara, Dzhemal GOGITIDZE, is responsible for maintaining order in the autonomy, with whom Mikhail VIGNANSKY, special correspondent of the Vremya Novostey newspaper, met — In Tbilisi they claim that a certain businessman is ready to give money to buy machine guns from Adjarian militias at $250 apiece. Do you know the name of this philanthropist?

Valentina Matvienko proposed privatizing architectural monuments Governor of St. Petersburg Valentina Matvienko discovered yesterday that the celebration of the city's 300th anniversary in 2003 did not protect many St. Petersburg historical and cultural monuments from gradual destruction. And this despite the fact that only during 2002-2003 a gigantic amount was allocated for their restoration - more than 20 billion rubles.

Bin Laden suggested that Europe should not interfere in the affairs of Muslims Yesterday Osama Bin Laden made a tempting offer to the Old World - he promised Europe a truce.