TEHRAN The special envoy of Turkmen President Saparmurat Niyazov on Caspian affairs arrived in Tehran on Monday.

Boris Sheikhmoradev was to submit a message from President Niyazov to Iranian President Mohammad Khatami Monday evening.

The message focuses on the subjects of bilateral ties and regional developments, as well as issues related to the Caspian Sea.

Sheikhmoradev's visit aims to make preparations for a future visit to Tehran of President Niyazov.

During his stay he will review Caspian Sea issues, regional developments, the critical situation in Afghanistan and the prospects of a Tehran-Ashkhabad cooperation in specific fields with senior Iranian officials.

Crucial agreements envisioning the framework for a bilateral cooperation are to be prepared for signing during a future visit to Ashkhabad of the Iranian president.

Speaking to IRNA prior to his visit, the Turkmen envoy said, "There is no obstacle in the way of further promotion of Tehran-Moscow ties."

Referring to the construction of the Tajan, Sarakhs and Mashhad railroads as well as the Korpezhe-Kurtkui and Artiq-Lotfabad gas pipelines as major projects materialized by the two countries, he said that the two sides are currently constructing a dam on the Tajan River called the "bridge of friendship".