"We got answers to all questions we had asked and hopefully if all Transcaspian leaders have the same stance we could finalize the convention this year," Viktor Kalyuzny said.
Mr Kalyzhny conducted a series of talks in Ashgabat among them with Turkmen President Saparmurat Niyazov.
When commenting on the outcome of the talks Mr Kalyuzny stressed that "there are no differences in Russia's and Turkmenistan's stances on the Caspian Sea issue." He also said that the Turkmen president had confirmed the Turkmen Foreign Minister's participation in a Moscow meeting of Foreign Ministers scheduled for April 6-7.
Moreover, the parties discussed the second meeting of Transcaspian leaders, which may take place in the second half of 2004 in Tehran.