Primakov is accompanied by Defence Minister Igor Sergeyev and Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov as well as by directors of Russia's civilian and army intelligence services, Vyacheslav Trubikov and Valentin Korabelynikov respectively.

The delegation is in Belgrade at President Boris Yeltsin's request. Moscow hopes that the visit could be a turning point in the developments and could help put an end immediately to NATO's aggression on Yugoslavia in order to resume efforts to find a peaceful and diplomatic solution to problems.

Tanjug's Moscow-based correspondent has reported that entire Russia is carefully monitoring the ranking delegation's visit to Belgrade, especially in the light of the fact that the Itar-Tass news agency reported before the delegation's departure early on Tuesday that NATO aggressors had 'prepared' the ground for the visit by bombing again late Monday Batajnica airport near Belgrade where the delegation's plane should have landed.

The plane landed at Belgrade's Surcin airport instead.