Russian Foreign Minister arrives in Washington

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov arrived in Washington early Tuesday for talks with US President Barack Obama and a meeting of the Middle East Quartet, a Russian embassy spokesman said. During his visit Lavrov will also meet with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to discuss Obama's visit to Moscow due this fall, Russia's News Agency (RIA Novosti) reported. The Russian and US top diplomats will also discuss European missile defense, visa issues and a bilateral adoption agreement. The agenda of the talks will include the dispute between rival Palestinian factions of Fatah and Hamas over the formation of the unity government for the Palestinians and the resumption of direct peace talks between Israelis and Palestinians.