During Dr. Rowhani’s sojourn in that country, he met with Russian officials including Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov, Defense Minister Igor Sergeyev and former Prime Minister Yevgeny Primakov. Foreign Minister Ivanov said in his meeting with Dr. Rowhani that Tehran and Moscow needed to cooperate in the formation of a new world order. Cooperation among Iran, Russia, India and China was very significant. Progress has been made in bilateral relations between Iran and Russia during recent years and the two countries held similar views on many issues. The foreign minister acknowledged the cooperation between Iran and Russia in the Caspian Sea and that Russia was opposed to using the Caspian Sea bed for pipelines exporting oil from the Central Asia. Russia hopes to thwart efforts to isolate Iran, believing that the Islamic Republic should play an active part in the international community. Iran had signed a treaty with Russia concerning a joint campaign against terrorism, which was an example of Iran’s constructive contributions in an international context. Russia is seeking Iran’s cooperation for the settlement of the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan regarding Karabakh, Russian foreign minister said, adding that Moscow respects Islam and appreciated Iran’s humanitarian assistance to the Chechen Muslims. Moscow is firm on fulfilling all the commitments given to Tehran, Russian Defense Minister Igor Sergeyev maintained when he met Rowhani in Moscow. Russia will continue its technical and military cooperation with Iran, while holding a joint stance with the Islamic Republic on restoration of peace in Tajikistan. The defense minister stressed on the continuation of bilateral collaboration in all regional issues. The Caspian Sea is becoming increasingly sensitive in the third millennium. It is therefore crucial that Tehran and Moscow work together to maintain regional peace and stability. The most effective solution to the crisis is the collective cooperation of regional countries for the re-establishment of peace and stability in Karabakh, Sergeyev said. In all his meetings in Moscow, Rowhani stressed on Iran’s policy of establishment of peace, stability and security in the region on the basis of national interests of regional countries and condemned interference of alien forces in this region. Nuclear cooperation between the two countries – something Russia has been blamed for by the United States saying it has been directed at developing nuclear weapons by Iran – is only for peaceful purposes, as announced by Iranian official. Rowhani called for expansion of bilateral ties in military and high-tech industries including aeronautical and heavy industries as well as nuclear engineering. Neither country will allow third parties to interfere in their affairs. Rowhani who is also the secretary of the Supreme National Security Council said that a common stance on regional and international issues is in the interest of both nations. He described the Caspian Sea as the “sea of friendship and peace” and said that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s efforts for an active presence in the region will only create instability. The Caspian is a non-military sea and must remain a symbol of regional collaboration. In another meeting between Rowhani and Sergei Ivanov, secretary of Russian Security Council, the Russian side stressed on the expansion of relations with Iran, which has always been among the priorities of Russian foreign policies. Russia has always attached importance to its relations with Iran. Cooperation between Tehran and Moscow in the Central Asia, Caucasus, Caspian Sea as well as the international scene is positive and important. Russia welcomes cooperation with the delegation of the Organization of Islamic Conference’s member countries relating the issue of Chechnya. North-south transport from Russia through Iran via the Caspian Sea is a field of cooperation between the two countries, while the Russian government is opposed to the transfer of Central Asia oil and gas through the Caspian Sea. Mutual understanding is necessary among neighboring Caspian Sea countries in adopting a legal regime and cooperation between Iran and Russia is basic and important in this regard. Iran announced that it never allows foreign companies to have any activities in the 20% of its share in the Caspian and will encounter any violations. While in Russia, Iran’s vice speaker also met with former Russian Prime Minister and leader of the Fatherland All-Russia Action Group, Yevgeni Primakov, where they reviewed bilateral relations and cooperation between the two countries. Representatives of Russian State Duma favor further consolidation of relations with the Islamic Republic and Moscow will not surrender to U.S. pressures to lower relations with Tehran, Russian official observed. Afghanistan is a major issue for Iran and Russia. Officials of both countries believe the country should not be turned into a center of terrorism in the region. Russia has begun delivery of the first five MI-17 military helicopters to Iran, as was announced by the management of an aeronautics factory in Siberia. The first helicopter was sent to Iran in January and the four others will be sent within three months. In early January, Russian’s ambassador to Tehran, Cosntantin Shuvalov, assured Iran than Moscow would implement its oil, gas and aeronautics cooperation accords despite Boris Yeltsin’s resignation as president. Other reports tell of a deal between Iran and Russia based on which Iran is to buy Topolov TU-334 passenger planes. The deal’s total value, as estimated by Sergey Ivanov, is at about $3 billion. The TU-334, which was introduced to public last year, is a 100-seat airliner with full load range of 2,000 kilometers (1,250 miles). It was designed to replace the aging TU-134, which has been in service for about 30 years. Russian airlines have withdrawn the TU-134s from most foreign routes because they are too noisy, but they have remained a mainstay on domestic routes. The TU-334 consumes half as much fuel as its predecessor does and its noise level meets modern standards. Also, Iran may order three more nuclear reactors for power generation from Russia, a top Russian official said. If formalized, the agreement will likely upset US officials who have strongly protested against Russia’s assistance to Iranian nuclear program. Russia and Iran have largely ignored Washington’s protests, saying their cooperation is legal and peaceful. And that nuclear cooperation benefits both countries. Vice Prime Minister Ilya Klebanove announced the possible deal after meeting with Iranian Supreme Security Council chief, Hassan Rowhani. Klebanove said the possible new agreement meets all international obligations regulating peaceful nuclear cooperation. Russian engineers are already building one reactor at Bushehr nuclear research site in southern Iran under an existing contract. |
