Caspian littoral states’ FMs to meet in April
By Nigar Orujova
Negotiations on the legal status of the Caspian Sea are underway. Organizing the Summit of the Heads of State of the Caspian littoral countries in 2014 is on the agenda," Azerbaijani deputy FM Khalaf Khalafov has told journalists.
Russia has already voiced its decision on the legal status of the Caspian Sea and other Caspian countries agreed with this decision, he said, AzerTag state news agency reported.
Khalafov said the next summit will be held in Ashgabat.
"The conference on the level of foreign ministers will be held on April 20-21. After this the preparations for the summit will be completed," Khalafov said.
The Caspian countries have to date narrowed their positions on the Sea's status. The Framework Convention was the first legally binding regional agreement signed by all the five Caspian littoral states, laying out general requirements and an institutional mechanism for environmental protection in the resource-rich Caspian region.
While Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Russia agreed on the delimitation of the sea in early 2000, other littoral states -Turkmenistan and Iran- still cannot reach the consensus.
Beside the legal status identification, Caspian Sea, a home for about 141 fish species, also awaits of the ecological problems resolution.
The main fishery in the region, the sturgeon fishery, is operated only with the Caspian's resources. Some 90 percent of the popular black and red caviar sold all over the world comes from the Caspian Sea.