Azernews.Az

By Amina Nazarli

A status of the largest inland body of water in the world -- the Caspian Sea -- is being discussed at Kazakhstan’s capital Astana, which is hosting the meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the Caspian- littoral countries.

The uncertainty of the legal status of the Caspian Sea is one of the most discussed topics in between the five coastal states, including Azerbaijan, Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Iran for over 20 years.

The main theme of the Astana talks is agreement on the project of the Convention on the Caspian Sea legal status and progress made in certain areas of cooperation in the Caspian Sea.

Head of the Kazakh Foreign Ministry Erlan Idrissov, opened the event, saying that Kazakhstan for the first time holds the meeting in this format, and this marks an important stage of preparation for the fifth "Caspian Five" Summit.

Idrissov noted that the main efforts of the parties will be aimed at finalizing a draft convention on the legal status of the Caspian Sea.

"This fundamental legal document aims to lay a solid foundation in the future architecture of relations in the Caspian Sea, as well as to ensure stable and sustainable development of the Caspian region. … During the exchange of views in the process of negotiations participants were able to come close to reaching a consensus on the draft convention on the legal status the Caspian sea," the Kazakh minister said.

He emphasized that the negotiations in Astana are evidence of "true friendship of the Caspian states," and the indication of "the common desire for close cooperation and interaction."

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov, for his part, stated that Azerbaijan is sure that all issues of the Caspian Sea legal status must be resolved in a spirit of respect for the sovereign rights of the Caspian-littoral countries and mutually beneficial partnership, as well as by strengthening trust among the sides, in particular, in regional stability, security, economic and scientific-research activity in the Caspian Sea.

Mammadyarov pointed to the necessity of strengthening trust among the sides, particularly in such issues as regional stability, security, economic, scientific and research activity in the Caspian Sea, in order to resolve the Caspian Sea legal status issues.

“Confidence building measures must also ensure equal security conditions for all the Caspian littoral countries,” he said. “We are also sure that strengthening of stability in the Caspian Sea must be done taking into account the interests of all sides and causing no damage to the security of each other, respecting the sovereignty, territorial integrity, independence of the Caspian countries and not interfering in the internal affairs of each other.”

Mammadyarov said great work has been done in the negotiation process to coordinate the provisions of the draft convention on the Caspian Sea’s legal status.

“The political decisions and agreements reached during the summits of heads of the Caspian states have contributed to the efficiency of further negotiations on the draft convention as a whole,” he said.

Mammadyarov pointed to the fruitful work done by the special working group at the level of deputy foreign ministers and their efforts to achieve a consensus on many fundamental provisions. He also expressed hope that the work that has continued for many years will result in a comprehensive legal framework for interaction and cooperation on the Caspian Sea.

The Azerbaijani minister said it is necessary to reach agreements on all the uncoordinated provisions of the draft convention before the next summit of the heads of the Caspian states.

“However, it is also necessary to make every effort to accelerate the coordination of the draft convention’s provisions that constitute an important basis for determining the legal status of the Caspian Sea,” he said.

The foreign minister also stressed that Azerbaijan attaches great importance to the agreements on delimitation of the Caspian seabed among Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Russia, and expressed hope for a speedy resolution of the seabed delimitation issues in the central and southern parts of the sea.

“The Caspian Sea is an important component of many international and regional projects that are aimed at the economic development and welfare of the Caspian countries’ peoples and the global energy security,” he said.

Mammadyarov added that the sixth Conference of the Parties of Framework Convention for Protection of the Marine Environment of the Caspian Sea is planned to be held in Baku.

He said that establishing a permanent secretariat of the Framework Convention will be one of the main goals of the conference.

The foreign minister added that the Azerbaijani side has prepared a draft agreement on establishing the secretariat in Baku and has submitted it to all the Caspian countries.

Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, for his part, said that security and stability in the Caspian Sea is of fundamental importance for the region, and it is necessary to adhere to the purposes of this reservoir usage for only peaceful purposes.

The Iranian minister also noted the importance of maintaining the environment and called on states to refrain from unsustainable use of biological resources and voiced to particularly pay attentive to the use of the bottom of the Caspian Sea for the transport of pollutants.

The Caspian Sea is significant for geographical position. The countries surrounding it, the resources within the sea and its strategic location in the middle of the Eurasian continent are the main factors that give the sea its true geopolitical importance.

During the Soviet Union, the Caspian Sea was practically an inland body of water within the boundaries of the USSR, and only on the south it washed the coast of Iran.

Baku supports defining the Caspian Sea's legal status based on the sovereign rights of the littoral states, a mutually beneficial partnership, and peaceful negotiations.

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