Russian President Vladimir Putin (R), presidential aide Sergei Prikhodko

Russian President Vladimir Putin (R), presidential aide Sergei Prikhodko (2nd R), Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (2nd L) and Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin (L) stand around a camp fire on April 16, 2008 at the residence of Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi in Tripoli. Putin arrived in Libya on April 16, 2008 for a 24-hour visit expected to be dominated by talks over energy contracts and arms sales. Arms sales to Tripoli and the clearing of Soviet-era debt may also be touched on during their talks, according to Russian government sources. The visit comes as Russia is trying to coordinate policy with other gas producing states, notably Algeria, and is promoting plans for an organization of gas producers similar to the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), of which Libya is a member.
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