VLADIMIR PUTIN ON PROBLEMS OF CENTRAL ASIA








MOSCOW, MARCH 12, 2001. /RIA Novosti Correspondent Oleg Osipov/. The problems of the Central Asian region should be settled, above all, by the countries of the region. This RIA Novosti correspondent reports that this opinion was expressed by President Vladimir Putin of Russia at a press conference given today upon conclusion of the Russian-Iranian negotiations.


	President Mohammad Khatami of Iran declared, in his turn, that regional problems should be settled by the countries of the region and that no diktat is acceptable there.


	He said that since Russia and Iran are situated "in sensitive regions," the development of bilateral relations will have a positive effect on security and stability in the Central Asian and Caspian regions.