The Russian-Turkmen intergovernmental commission set up to resolve problems resulting from the revocation of dual citizenship ended two days of negotiations on 9 July, with both sides giving upbeat assessments of the progress made. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Aleksei Fedotov, who headed the Russian delegation, told journalists that the Turkmen side has officially promised that the rights of Russian citizens living in Turkmenistan and holding dual citizenship will not be infringed, which he said was the main Russian objective in the talks. The previous day, Interfax quoted Fedotov as saying the negotiations were \"difficult.\" Fedotov said on 9 July that the results of the commission session should fully satisfy the interests of Russian citizens. The two sides reportedly signed a protocol declaring that the 10 April agreement between Turkmen President Saparmurat Niyazov and Russian President Vladimir Putin on revoking dual citizenship will be implemented in accordance with the laws of both countries after it is ratified. Another member of the Russian delegation, State Duma Foreign Relations Committee Deputy Chairman Sergei Apatenko, told journalists that the Russian delegation saw nothing that would confirm media stories of Russian citizens being driven from their homes. Apatenko noted, however, that the delegation is concerned about the unavailability of publications from Russia, the lack of education in Russian, and the poor job prospects for Russian speakers. According to turkmenistan.ru on 9 July, Niyazov joined the negotiations several times by telephone. (RFE/RL)