Just two days before Iraq's Deputy Prime Minister, Tariq Aziz, arrives in Moscow for high-level talks, the UN's chief weapons inspector, Richard Butler, is also in the Russian capital.

He is meeting Foreign Minister, Igor Ivanov, but Russian officials are remaining tight-lipped about the focus of the visit, saying vaguely they would centre on Russia's effort to achieve a settlement in Iraq.

The timing of Russia's latest bout of diplomatic activity is not accidental. Iraq is hoping the UN will soon conduct a comprehensive review of its programme to dismantle weapons of mass destruction.

Iraq's Deputy PM Tariq Aziz - arrives in Moscow on Sunday

Russia, which has a sizeable long-term economic stake in Iraq, is anxious the review should take some account of the progress made so far.

This, as well as Russia's participation in the oil for food programme, under which Iraq makes limited oil sales to buy humanitarian supplies, will be the key issues for Tariq Aziz when he arrives in Moscow for talks with the Prime Minister, Yevgeny Primakov, and Foreign Minister Ivanov on Sunday.

In the past Iraq has looked to Russia to step in to resolve the frequent breakdowns there have been with the United States. Moscow remains implacably opposed to the use of military strikes against Baghdad, arguing that they will destroy years of work by the international community in a matter of days.

But however attractive its long term economic prospects are in Iraq, Russia is not about to roll over. It remains committed to the need to rid Iraq of weapons of mass destruction forever and supports a thorough and transparent inspection regime.