Four leaders to mull Caspian status
The presidents of Azerbaijan, Russia, Kazakhstan and
Turkmenistan will meet from September 11-13 to discuss the legal
status of the resource-rich Caspian Sea in Aktau, Kazakh Ambassador
in Baku, Serik Primbetov, told the press last week.
According to Primbetov, given that this will be an informal summit the four leaders will determine the agenda of discussions on their own. Other issues, including energy, will also be discussed.
Primbetov noted that Iran, also a coastal nation, will not participate in the summit, though he did not say why.
Of note, Tehran has recently opposed holding a meeting of the intergovernmental taskforce on the Caspian status without its participation. Iran`s Foreign Ministry stated that any meeting seeking to review the status issue must be attended by all five coastal states.
The status of the basin has been unresolved for over a decade. Azerbaijan, Russia and Kazakhstan signed an agreement in 2001 on the delineation of the Caspian`s northern area into national sectors, with Azerbaijan and Russia each possessing 19%, while the Central Asian state received 29%. However, the other two coastal nations, Iran and Turkmenistan, have not signed the agreement.
According to Primbetov, given that this will be an informal summit the four leaders will determine the agenda of discussions on their own. Other issues, including energy, will also be discussed.
Primbetov noted that Iran, also a coastal nation, will not participate in the summit, though he did not say why.
Of note, Tehran has recently opposed holding a meeting of the intergovernmental taskforce on the Caspian status without its participation. Iran`s Foreign Ministry stated that any meeting seeking to review the status issue must be attended by all five coastal states.
The status of the basin has been unresolved for over a decade. Azerbaijan, Russia and Kazakhstan signed an agreement in 2001 on the delineation of the Caspian`s northern area into national sectors, with Azerbaijan and Russia each possessing 19%, while the Central Asian state received 29%. However, the other two coastal nations, Iran and Turkmenistan, have not signed the agreement.
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