TEHRAN Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi believes that a new approach to the Iranian-Russian relations is advantageous for both countries and the region in general. He expressed the remark at a meeting with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Losyukov, who is visiting Tehran.

According to Kamal Kharrazi, the two countries have an extensive potential for the expansion of bilateral, regional and international cooperation. He welcomed Russia's presence in the Middle East and pointed out that the cooperation of the two countries in the Caspian Sea and the Middle East was bringing good results. He expressed hope that the forthcoming visit of Iranian President Seyed Mohammad Khatami to Moscow would give a new impetus to Russian-Iranian relations.

Losyukov said, in his turn, that Russia was willing to develop relations with Iran in all the spheres. He believes the visit of the Iranian president to Russia will open up a new period in bilateral relations of the two countries.

Meanwhile, Russia and Iran will hold talks on the preparation of a forthcoming official visit of Seyed Mohammad Khatami, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, to the Russian Federation were held here from February 3 to 4.

Alexander Losyukov, Russian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, who is currently here on a visit, and his Iranian counterpart, Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Ahani discussed a possible agenda for a summit and the course of work on a number of documents which will be adopted or signed during Khatami's visit.

In particular, the sides considered a draft treaty between the two countries on basic principles for relations and cooperation.

Alexander Losyukov and Ali Ahani stated that the recent period has seen an upturn in bilateral Iran-Russia cooperation in the trade and economic field, a considerable coincidence of positions on a number of international problems such as, for example, the situation in Afghanistan, and a desire to cooperate on bilateral and multilateral bases in the interests of the normalization and the maintenance of stability in regions which are close to the borders of the two countries -- the Near and Middle East, the Persian Gulf, the Transcaucasus, the Caspian, Central and South Asia.

The sides express confidence that the Iranian president's visit to Russia would make it possible not only to use better the existing potential of bilateral cooperation but would also serve to further strengthen interaction between the two countries in the international arena.

(IRNA)