Russian FM: No crisis in Caspian legal status solution
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said
Moscow sees no crisis in the process of determining the legal
status of the Caspian Sea, the country’s state news agency
ITAR-TASS reported.
"Though the basin’s status is not an easy issue, there is progress in this area," Lavrov said after meeting his Kazakh counterpart Kanat Saudabayev.
Saudabayev described Russia and Kazakhstan as driving forces in finding a solution to the long-standing dispute, but added: "Unfortunately, solutions on this issue do not depend on our countries alone, but also three other states. But Russia and Kazakhstan’s positions demonstrate readiness for understanding."
The Kazakh minister added that the Caspian should be "a sea of friendship and mutual interests."
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 between the five coastal nations.*
"Though the basin’s status is not an easy issue, there is progress in this area," Lavrov said after meeting his Kazakh counterpart Kanat Saudabayev.
Saudabayev described Russia and Kazakhstan as driving forces in finding a solution to the long-standing dispute, but added: "Unfortunately, solutions on this issue do not depend on our countries alone, but also three other states. But Russia and Kazakhstan’s positions demonstrate readiness for understanding."
The Kazakh minister added that the Caspian should be "a sea of friendship and mutual interests."
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 between the five coastal nations.*
Here we are to serve you with news right now. It does not cost much, but worth your attention.
Choose to support open, independent, quality journalism and subscribe on a monthly basis.
By subscribing to our online newspaper, you can have full digital access to all news, analysis, and much more.
Subscribe
You can also follow AzerNEWS on Twitter @AzerNewsAz or Facebook @AzerNewsNewspaper
Thank you!