Primakov on Peace: 'I Do Not Envy Madeleine.'(Russian Foreign Minister Yevgeny Primakov; Secretary of State Madeleine Albright)(Interview)

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Russia's foreign minister declares his country intends to expand its role in the Mideast

YEVGENY PRIMAKOV HAS SET AN ambitious agenda for his trip to the United States this week. In meetings with both President Clinton and Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, Russia's foreign minister plans to discuss the Mideast peace process, arms-control treaties and Bosnia. U.S. officials probably

bring up a few difficult topics themselves: since taking his post in January 1996 Primakov, who formerly headed up Moscow's intelligence service, has revised much of the foreign policy established by his predecessor Andrei Kozyrev. Instead of cooperating with Washington, he has warmed up Moscow's relations with Iran, Iraq and Libya. Primakov discussed these and other issues with NEWSWEEK'S Lally Weymouth last week in Moscow. Excerpts:

WEYMOUTH: The U.S. wants Russia to stop selling …