MOSCOW HOPES FOR POSITIVE OUTCOME OF MEETING BETWEEN PRESIDENTS OF IRAN AND RUSSIA MOSCOW, MARCH 11, 2001. /FROM RIA NOVOSTI CORRESPONDENT/.








Moscow hopes that the forthcoming meeting between the Presidents of Russia and Iran -- Vladimir Putin and Muhammad Khatami -- will "open the door" to settling the disputable matters that exist on the legal definition of the Caspian Sea status, said Viktor Kalyuzhny, the Russian president's special envoy for the Caspian Sea and Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia, at a press-conference in Moscow.


	Viktor Kalyuzhny said that the Iranian side had expressed the wish to sign a statement on the results of the meeting of the heads of state, as was the case following the summits between the Russian president and the leaders of Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan.


	The joint statement which was prepared by the two sides does not eliminate all the disputable issues concerning the Caspian problem, pointed out Kalyuzhny. However, he went on, much hope is pinned directly on the meeting between the two presidents.


	Describing the current state of negotiations in defining the legal status of the Caspian Sea, the Deputy Minister noted that during the past year it has been possible to bring closer the positions of the Caspian states, and that it was Russia which has played a great role in the matter. "This is a great success, for earlier it seemed that the situation had reached a dead-end," he explained.


	At the same time, Kalyuzhny said he was "perplexed" by the stand of the Iranian side which insists on the "equally just" division of the Caspian Sea. He explained that "taking into account the agreement achieved by Russia and Kazakhstan" on the issue, the Caspian problem "is insoluble," while Tehran holds such a stand.


	Viktor Kalyuzhny noted that Moscow and Tehran are conducting an active dialogue, and that six meetings on the issue were held during the past six months alone. Kalyuzhny said that it is "pleasant" to note Iran's interest in settling the Caspian problem even if no positive result has been achieved.


	The position of Turkmenistan, he went on, is completely different. It is "closed" for any negotiations at working level. Kalyuzhy noted that he "understands the position of the Turkmen-Bashi who insists on a top-level meeting," but believes that it is impossible to settle all the issues at these meetings, for the meetings at working level are also necessary for that.