Notwithstanding efforts by President Bush, British Prime Minister John Major and other leaders to downplay the chances that a massive infusion of aid will be forthcoming subsequent to the London meeting, the Center believes that a substantial, multilateral aid program is likely to be launched there.
And there is a chance, at least, that Mr Khatami and Mr Putin will use their forthcomingmeeting to reach an agreement on how the Caspian Sea itself should be shared among its five littoral states.