Federation Council Vice-Speaker Konstantin Kosachev at a meeting with Iranian Ambassador to Russia Kazem Jalali expressed hope for the continuation of active interaction at the talks on the Syrian settlement in the Astana format.
"Of course, we hope to continue active interaction at the talks in the Astana format," the senator said, as quoted by the press service of the Federation Council.
In a conversation with TASS, Kosachev said that the negotiators also discussed the prospects of cooperation between the countries in the fight against coronavirus infection. "Iran has certified Sputnik V, and supplies of the vaccine have already begun. The possibility of organizing production in Iran is being discussed," he said.
Despite restrictions related to the epidemiological situation around the world, "Russian-Iranian relations and inter-parliamentary dialogue maintain intensive dynamics," Kosachev noted.
"We expect that Iranian representatives will take an active part in international forums held by the Federation Council. In particular, in the Nevsky Environmental Congress in St. Petersburg, as well as in the Eurasian Women's Forum scheduled for September this year and in the World Conference on Intercultural and Interreligious Dialogue scheduled for May 2022," the FC deputy chairman said. In turn, Jalali expressed his interest in promoting the further development of inter-parliamentary dialogue.
According to the Deputy Speaker, the sides also discussed Iran's prospects of ratifying the Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea. The parliamentarian refused to disclose details of the talks on this issue.
The presidents of Russia, Kazakhstan, Iran, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan signed the document on August 12, 2018 in Aktau following the V Caspian Summit. It will enter into force after ratification by all five signatory states. To date, all countries except Iran have ratified the convention.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Federation Council
Based on materials from TASS