RUSSIAN OFFICIAL REJECTS "MISUNDERSTANDING" IN TEHRAN-BAKU TIES

A senior Russian official has dismissed any "misunderstanding" between Iran and Azerbaijan amid disagreement between the two states over Caspian Sea legal regime, IRNA reports refering to the Azeri state TV.

"The visit to Baku of Iranian deputy foreign minister Ali Ahani and the reasonable stance adopted by Azeri president Heidar Aliyev is indicative of lack of misunderstanding between the two sides," Victor Kalyuzhny, the Russian deputy foreign minister with special responsibility for the Caspian, was quoted as saying by Azeri Space TV. He arrived in the Azeri capital late Wednesday. "The July 23 event would not have any negative effect on the talks aimed at defining a legal status for the Caspian Sea," he said, referring to the last month's incident when an Iranian warship trained its guns on an Azeri oil research vessel in the Iranian water. "Exchange of letters between Azerbaijan and Iran over the Caspian Sea are natural events," he said, noting "Contradictions should be settled at the negotiating table."