RUSSIA, IRAN CREATE BUSINESS COUNCIL

The chambers of commerce and industry of Russia and Iran have created a Russia-Iran Business Council, president of the Russian chamber Yevgeny Primakov, who is on a visit in Iran, told RIA Novosti. "Business councils should be headed not by officials but by businessmen, which will allow the councils to maximally facilitate transactions in order to promote business cooperation in different spheres," Mr. Primakov said. On Sunday he met and held talks with his Iranian counterpart, Ali Naghi Khamoushi, and Deputy Foreign Minister Mehdi Safari. They discussed a wide range of issues pertaining to the development and strengthening of Russia-Iran economic and political interaction, and signed an agreement of cooperation in information exchange between the two chambers of commerce and industry. The delegation accompanying Mr. Primakov made up of businessmen and heads of major Russian companies will discuss with their Iranian colleagues the development of ties and sign relevant documents.