02/09/2003 (Agence Europe) - According to AFP, the Russian Foreign Affairs Minister, Igor Ivanov, has spoken in favour of abandoning the visa regime between the EU and Russia, at a speech in Moscow to the Institute of International Relations. "For objective reasons, Russia has no intention of making a formal request to become a member of the European Union in the near future", the Minister is reported to have stated, adding that "all of its strategic and economic interests lie in Europe" (see yesterday's EUROPE, p.7, on Mr Putin's visit to Mr Berlusconi). Getting rid of the visa regime between the EU and Russia, particularly in view of the EU's forthcoming enlargement, is a recurrent request by Russia in its political dialogue with the EU.