Pacific Islands Forum
Annual summit
The annual Pacific Islands Forum summit holds a plenary session on the August 19, a leader's retreat on August 20, and donor meeting on August 21 (Radio New Zealand).
Dalai Lama
France visit
The Dalai Lama visits France. During the tour, he meets Senate members, though there is also speculation -- denied by the Dalai Lama's office -- that he may meet President Nicolas Sarkozy (AFP).
MVSV 2008
International exhibition of weapons and military equipment
The MVSV 2008 international exhibition of weapons and military equipment will be held in Moscow. More than 400 companies and foreign organisations have asked to take part (Interfax-AVN).
Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Georgia visit
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrives from Moscow and meets Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili as part of Turkey's efforts "to secure a sustainable peace in the region" (Turkish news agency Anatolia).
Angela Merkel
Russia visit
German Chancellor Angela Merkel meets Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in the Black Sea resort of Sochi for a visit that was planned before the start of recent fighting between Russia and Georgia (Russian news agency ITAR-TASS).
Mahmoud Ahmadi-Nejad
Turkey visit
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadi-Nejad visits Turkey to discuss Iran's nuclear programme (Iranian news agency IRNA).
Michel Suleiman
Syria visit
Lebanese President Michel Suleiman visits Damascus for talks with Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Asad; a joint news conference is scheduled for August 14 (Lebanese Hezbollah Al-Manar TV website).
Barham Salih
Iran visit
Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Barham Salih visits Iran for talks on possible economic and trade agreements (Iranian Students news agency).
