MOSCOW ESPERE THAT THE MEETING OF THE IRANIAN AND RUSSIAN PRESIDENTS
WILL BE PROFITABLE








MOSCOW, March 11.  (Corr. Ria " Novosti ").  Moscow espere that the
next meeting of the presidents Russian Vladimir Poutine and Iranian
Mohamad Khatemi will make it possible to "entrouvrir the gate " giving
on the payment of the litigious problems relating to the definition of
the legal statute of the Caspian one.  It is what the Russian
vice-minister for the Businesses etrangeres and representant of the
Russian president for Caspian Viktor Kalioujny A declares at the time
of a press conference donnee has Moscow.

The diplomat has advertisement which the Iranian part had expresses
the wish to sign has the exit of the talks of the heads of State a
declaration as that had ete made at the end of the meetings of the
Russian president with the leaders of Kazakhstan and Azerbaidjan.

The joint declaration preparee by the two parts leve not all the
related litigious questions has problematic the Caspian one, A
indicates Viktor Kalioujny.  However, estimates it, of great hopes are
places on the meeting held on both presidents.

Caracterisant the current state of the talks on the definition of the
legal statute of the Caspian Sea, the vice-minister pointed out that
the year derniere one had assists has a bringing together of the
positions of the Caspian States, and this in a great measurement
thanks to the role plays by Russia precisely.  " They is large
successes, because up to now the situation seemed without exit ", has
it indicates.

At all events, Viktor Kalioujny declares perplexed face has the
position of Iran which insists on the " decoupage of Caspian in equal
shares ".  He A explains why " taking into account the agreement
occurred in the matter between Russia and Kazakhstan ", the position
adopted here by Iran " makes the problem Caspian insoluble ".

The vice-minister pointed out that Moscow and Teheran carried out an
intense dialogue.  During the last six-month period, six meetings have
ete consacrees has this theme.  According to remarks' of Viktor
Kalioujny, the interest which Iran carries to the same Caspian payment
in the absence of positive results " gives pleasure ".

All differente is the position of Turkmenistan which is " firm " A any
meeting of work, has releve.  Viktor Kalioujny A declares that it "
included/understood the position of Saparmourat Niyazov which
reclamait a summit meeting, but, according to him, has this level it
is impossible of regler all the questions, for that of the meetings of
work are necessary.