Norwegian royal couple begin visit to Russia

King Harald the Fifth of Norway and Queen Sonja have begun a five-day state visit to Russia -- the first by a Norwegian monarch since 1905.

The King has said that during the visit officials are expected to sign an agreement on environmental protection.

Correspondents say Norway has been concerned for years at the dangers from Russian nuclear submarines off its coast and by Russian nuclear plants near its border.

King Harald is being accompanied by a delegation of Norwegian businessmen.

The visit underlines the normalisation of relations after Norway expelled five Russian diplomats in March on grounds of espionage, and Moscow retaliated by expelling two Norwegian envoys.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service