2005
DECEMBER
December 16
MOSCOW - President Vladimir Putin's meeting with Armenian counterpart Robert Kocharyan.
MOSCOW - An international conference on Russia's transportation strategy.
MOSCOW - A plenary session of the nationwide conference on the legislative aspects and problems of cooperation development
MOSCOW - An international conference on the implementation of the presidential program for the training of managers of Russia's economic organizations in 2004-2005 and its further development strategy.
December 17
MOSCOW - A congress of the Russian Pensioners' Party.
MOSCOW - The 14th extraordinary congress of the Republican Party of Russia.
December 19
MOSCOW - An exhibition dedicated to the 15th anniversary of the Emergency Situations Ministry.
December 20
MOSCOW - A conference on the state regional policy with Regional Development Minister Vladimir Yakovlev.
December 21
VIENNA - Preliminary talks between the "EU troika" (Britain, France, and Germany) and Iran on the Iranian nuclear issue.
December 23
TYUMEN - The first leg of Kostya Tszyu's international professional boxing cup.
WARSAW - Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski will conclude his term in office.
December 25
MOSCOW - A nationwide New Year's party in the State Kremlin Palace with 5,000 children representing all of the Russian regions.
KAMBARKA, UDMURTIA - The launch of Russia's second chemical weapons disposal facility.
December 27
MOSCOW - Father Frost (Russian Santa Claus) will arrive in Moscow after a tour of Russia and attend New Year celebrations on Tverskaya Square.
IVANOVO - Mikhail Men's inauguration ceremony as governor of the Ivanovo region.
December 28
LENINGRAD REGION (Ivangorod border checkpoint) - The first meeting between Russian Father Frost and Santa Claus on the Russian-Estonian border (since 1997 such meetings have been held on the Russian-Finnish border).
December 29
MOSCOW - A session of the State Council on the implementation of key national projects.
December 30
MOSCOW - A New Year's reception at the Kremlin.
UKRAINE/IRAQ - The completion of the withdrawal of Ukrainian peacekeepers from Iraq.
December 31
LISBON - The 28th Dakar-2006 off-road rally will start.
2006
JANUARY
January 10
MOSCOW - The beginning of the spring session of the State Duma (until July 16).
January 13
WASHINGTON - German Chancellor Angela Merkel's visit to Washington and meeting with President George W. Bush.
January 14
LONDON - The second Russian Winter Festival on Trafalgar Square.
January 15
HELSINKI - The first round of presidential elections in Finland (the second round may be held January 29 if necessary).
January 16
MOSCOW - German Chancellor Angela Merkel's state visit to Russia.
