Washington, 14 May 1997 (RFE/RL) - Russian Defense Minister Igor Rodionov is due to leave Washington today for the U.S. Pacific Ocean state of Hawaii and a tour of U.S. military bases there.
Rodionov will conclude the Washington leg of his U.S. trip with meetings today with Secretary of State Madeleine Albright (1500 Prague time), and the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff (1730 Prague time).
Rodionov had talks yesterday with U.S. Defense Secretary William Cohen. Rodionov repeated his view that the planned expansion of the NATO alliance into Central and Eastern Europe is a mistake, but he also said the prospects for further improvement in U.S.-Russian military relations are good.
