Consultations on issues from the agenda of the UN Security Council and such related to cooperation within OSCE (Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe) were held here between the Russian and Bulgarian foreign ministries in Moscow. Bulgaria’s Deputy Foreign Minister Petko Draganov met with his Russian counterpart V. Lushichin and other officials to discuss anti-terrorism efforts, UN Security Council sanctions, the situation in the Middle East, Iraq and the Balkans and issues related to the conflicts in Africa. Draganov conveyed to Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov a message from his Bulgarian counterpart Passy saying that Bulgaria will bid to chair OSCE in 2004. The two sides identified commonality in their positions and agreed to continue cooperation between the two ministries, including within diplomatic missions and resident missions with international organizations.