Russia, Iran Pledge Cooperation in Seeking World StabilityRussia and Iran have agreed to coordinate their efforts in securing security and stability in the world, Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov said here Tuesday following talks with his Iranian counterpart Kamal Kharazi."Cooperation between Russia and Iran in the Caspian region, in Central Asia, in the Caucasus and in the Persian Gulf zone must meet the interests of stability and security," Ivanov told the press. According to Ivanov, during their meeting that lasted an hour and a half, the two ministers vowed to make joint efforts in seeking settlement of the Afghan problem. They also discussed in detail "the development of the status of the Caspian Sea", reaffirming that "any decision on the status of the Caspian Sea must be approved by all of the Caspian states." "We will continue consultations with Iran and other Caspian countries in order to reach mutually-acceptable agreements and to open a way toward a Caspian summit," Ivanov said. During the meeting, the Russian Minister also stressed that relations between Russia and Iran are not directed against any third country. He criticized some Western media reports, saying those reports neglected the political content of Iranian President Mohammed Khatami's current Moscow trip. On Monday, the two presidents signed "an important political document that proclaims the principles on which we intend to build our relations in the 21st century," he said. "These principles rely on the U.N. charter and international law." "We want our relations to be an element of stability in the region and the world as a whole," Ivanov added. |
| People's Daily Online --- http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/ |