Iran's President Mohammad Khatami left Tehran on Monday for a landmark state visit to Moscow, the first since coming to power in May 1997, said reports.
Khatami was accompanied by a high-ranking political, military and economic delegation, including Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazi, Defense Minister Ali Shamkhani and Petroleum Minister Bijan Namdar-Zanganeh.
In a brief declaration to the press before boarding a plane to Moscow, Khatami said the "principal object of the visit to Russia was the establishment of peace in the region," said AFP.
He added that "all subjects" of mutual interest to Tehran and Moscow would be discussed.
Khatami's visit has caught the attention of many countries worldwide, including Iran's arch-foe, the United States, which has always warned Russia not to sell arms to the Islamic republic, said the Iranian News Agency (IRNA).
The visit which takes place at the invitation of Khatami's counterpart Vladimir Putin, is expected to focus on the thorny issue of the legal status of the strategic Caspian Sea, ways of strengthening regional security and establishing a lasting peace in the region, said IRNA.
Former Russian prime minister, Yevgeny Primakov, told IRNA on Sunday that Khatami's visit is the biggest event in the history of Tehran-Moscow relations.
"The visit will have a large impact on Iran-Russia bilateral relations and the regional peace and stability," he said. He said that Russia firmly supports the stance adopted by the Islamic republic toward international terrorism – Albawaba.com
© 2001 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
