President Mohammad Khatami, currently attending a summit of Caspian Sea littoral states to discuss the issue of how its rich resources are to be shared, Monday night [22 April] called on the states to "coexist" and "cooperate". "Tehran does not look with favour on the pursuit of national interests at the expense of the national interests of other countries," Khatami stressed at a dinner banquet tendered by his Turkmen counterpart Saparmyrat Nyyazow. "The foreign policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran is anchored on ideals, mutual respect, detente, dialogue and cooperation among states in the interest of peace," he said. He stressed that Iran desires expansion of ties with all neighboring countries. The Iranian president hailed Tehran-Asgabat relations, saying the bilateral ties of the two governments are based on coexistence, trust, mutual understanding and respect for each other's interests which had also been stressed in the meetings and dialogues of the two countries' officials. He said their governments' long-term cooperation in various energy projects, including gas and power, and construction of railroads promises a bright future for their countries. The president expressed Iran's readiness to take part in economic projects to develop Turkmenistan and to boost economic cooperation with Asgabat by up to 1bn dollars. He pointed to the close geographical, historical, cultural, economic and political bonds that draw the countries together, and described his visit to Asgabat as a "homecoming" during which he "relished talking to old friends". President Khatami, after concluding his visit of Turkmenistan, will proceed to Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. (IRNA)