The Week Ahead: February 14-20

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev visits the Vatican to meet with Pope Benedict XVI on February 17.

The Week Ahead is a detailed listing of key events of the coming week affecting RFE/RL's broadcast region.


MONDAY, February 14:

Iran: Iranian opposition leaders expected to hold a rally in Tehran and other cities.

Kazakhstan: Astana hosts a meeting of Caspian Sea littoral states to discuss a proposed moratorium on sturgeon fishing in the sea.

Moldova: The next round of informal negotiations on the Transnistrian conflict settlement to be held in Vienna, Austria (to February 15).

Russia/U.K.: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov visits London (to February 15).

Turkey/Iran: Turkish President Abdullah Gul visits Tehran to discuss bilateral relations and regional developments (to February 16).


TUESDAY, February 15:

Ukraine: Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov attends the Visegrad Group meeting of prime ministers of the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia in Bratislava.


WEDNESDAY, February 16:

Russia: Two Russian cosmonauts on board the International Space Station are scheduled to perform a spacewalk.

Russia/Italy: Russian President Dmitry Medvedev visits Rome.

Spain/Russia: International contemporary art fair opens in Madrid focusing on Russia (to February 15).


THURSDAY, February 17:

Kosovo: Kosovo marks third anniversary of its independence from Serbia.

Russia/Vatican: Russian President Dmitry Medvedev visits the Vatican to meet with Pope Benedict XVI.


SATURDAY, February 19:

Turkmenistan: Turkmenistan marks National Flag Day.


SUNDAY, February 20:

UN: World Day of Social Justice.