TEHRAN, FEB 21, SPA -- SPEAKER OF IRANIAN SHOURA COUNCIL GHULAM ALI HADDAD HAS REVIEWED WITH HEAD OF THE FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE AT THE RUSSIAN FEDERAL COUNCIL MARKLEV ISSUES PERTAINING TO BILATERAL RELATIONS AND THE IRANIAN NUCLEAR ISSUE. URGING RUSSIA TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF IRAN IN THE REGIONAL BALANCES , GHULAM ALI HADDAD SAID THE EXISTENCE OF INDEPENDENT AND STRONG IRAN IN THE REGION WILL SERVE THE INTERESTS OF RUSSIA. HE UNDERSCORED THE IMPORTANCE OF THE IRANIAN PROPOSAL CALLING FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN ORGANIZATION FOR THE GAS EXPORTING COUNTRIES, AND SAID THIS PROPOSAL PROVIDES A CLEAR EVIDENCE FOR THE KEENNESS OF IRAN ON ENHANCING ITS STRATEGIC RELATIONS WITH RUSSIA.--SPA www.spa.gov.sa/427103