Azernews.Az

BAKU – Iran's Border Service chief has said the security of the Caspian Sea is the issue of paramount importance for the regional countries.

"Peace and stability in the region is the key issue. In particular, the Caspian should be a sea of peace," Maj. Gen. Hussein Zulfugar said during a visit to Azerbaijan.

On Wednesday, Baku hosted a meeting of the border service chiefs of the Caspian littoral states - Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Russia, Turkmenistan and Iran. According to Zulfugar, discussions centered on the agreement covering cooperation in maritime security signed by the coastal nations’ leaders during the summit held in Baku last November.

"It was decided that the heads of the five countries’ border services, having carried out relevant research, will put on discussion the required security projects at the next meeting. If the meeting approves the outcomes of the work done, an order will be further issued to set up a single communication center of the Caspian states as well as to establish a center for exchange of information."

The coastal nations have been divided for many years on the status of the sea, which is a source of huge hydrocarbon reserves. Azerbaijan has already signed agreements on dividing the Caspian into national sectors with Russia and Kazakhstan, but has yet to iron out its differences with Turkmenistan. Also, the status issue has yet to be agreed with Iran, which supports equal division of the seabed.