IGOR IVANOV: RUSSIA AND IRAN WANT AND WILL DO THEIR UTMOST TO MAKE BILATERAL RELATIONS FULL-FLEDGED








MOSCOW, March 13, 2001. /From RIA Novosti correspondent Elena Glushakova/. Russia and Iran want and will do their utmost for our bilateral relations to become full-fledged, declared Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov on Tuesday opening  negotiations with his Iranian counter-part Kamal Kharrazi.


	The head of the Russian Foreign Ministry stressed that the "relations will develop in all spheres in keeping with the interests of our countries." The minister said that the relations are called upon to stabilize the situation in the regions where Russia and Iran play a special role.


	Ivanov paid particular attention to Russian President Putin's statement that Russian-Iranian relations are not directed against any other countries.


	Moscow wants "our relations to serve as a factor of stability in the region and the world, as a whole," said the Russian Minister.


	Ivanov cited the experience of Russian-Iranian cooperation in the inter-Tajik settlement as a good example of cooperation  between Russia and Iran.


	The head of Iran's Foreign Ministry evaluated the current visit to Moscow by the president of his country as "good, friendly and important." The Minister thanked the Russian side for its warm reception and hospitality.  At the same time, he noted that "you get the feeling that some tend to misuse that visit." Kharrazi stressed that radio BBC had broadcast on Tuesday that Moscow and Tehran had signed several agreements in the military-technical sphere, as well as in the sphere of nuclear power industry.  And that, he noted, despite the fact that "everyone saw the documents that were signed." Igor Ivanov said that he had also noticed these commentaries.


	The Russian minister believes that Moscow and Tehran had signed an important political document that lays down the principles, on the basis of which Russia and Iran intend to build their mutual relations in the 21st century within the framework of the UN Charter and of international law. In Ivanov's opinion, that document reflects the nature of the documents that were adopted at the millennium summit in New York.