RIAN: Iran welcomes constitution of Chechnya

MARCH 2. /RIA NOVOSTI CORR. NIKOLAI TEREKHOV/. -

Iran praises Russia's efforts to settle the Chechnya crisis by peaceful means and to hold a referendum on adopting a constitution in this republic. According to a statement made Sunday by Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Assefi, his country would accept any peaceful measures on the part of Russia with a view to observing and guaranteeing rights of the multi-ethnic Russian population, including Moslems. Iran welcomes Russia's care for numerous representatives of Islam and, anyway, considers the Chechnya problem to be Russia's internal affair, added the spokesman.