RUSSIA, IRAN SIGN TREATY ON BASIC PRINCIPLES OF MUTUAL RELATIONS








MOSCOW, March 12, 2001. /RIA Novosti correspondent Oleg Osipov/. Following the negotiations held in Moscow on March 12, the Russian president Vladimir Putin and his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Khatami signed a Treaty on the basic principles of mutual relations and cooperation between the two countries.


	According to the RIA Novosti correspondent, the principles of cooperation between the two countries are set forth on eight pages and concern the trade-economic sphere and the cultural sphere of cooperation, as well as joint activities on the Caspian Sea. The Treaty also dwells on the political aspect of bilateral relations.


	The document points out, in particular, that each of the sides "assumes the obligation not to use force or a threat of force in mutual relations, not to use its territory for committing any acts of aggression, or subversive and separatist actions against the other side." Apart from this, Russia and Iran agreed that "should any other state commit an act of aggression against one of the parties /to the Treaty/, the other party should not render any military or any other assistance to the aggressor, that would help to continue the aggression; instead, it should promote the settlement of the dispute on the basis of the UN Charter and the norms of international law." The sides have agreed to settle disputes that might arise between them solely by peaceful means.


	Russia and Iran are convinced that "international problems in the modern world should be resolved only in compliance with the principles of sovereign equality, political independence, territorial integrity, a peaceful settlement of disputes, non-use of force and non-interference in the internal affairs of other states, as stipulated by the UN Charter." Vladimir Putin and Mohammad Khatami also agreed that Russia and Iran will create favourable legal, economic, financial and commercial conditions for their countries' bilateral and multilateral activities and for joint capital investments in the two countries' territories and in third countries. The Treaty points out that Moscow and Teheran will promote the development of long-term mutually advantageous contacts for the implementation of joint projects in the spheres of transport and power engineering (including peaceful use of nuclear energy and building of nuclear power plants), industry, science and technologies, agriculture and health care.


	The Treaty also reads that the sides will hold regular consultations and exchange information and experience in the economic, scientific and technical spheres.