Caspian states to discuss security deal in July
The littoral states of the Caspian Sea are due to hold another
meeting to discuss an agreement on security cooperation in Baku in
July, Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister Khalaf Khalafov has told
reporters.
Talks among the coastal nations on security in the basin began
during the Tehran summit in 2007.
Khalafov expressed hope that the meeting, to be held on the level
of deputy ministers, will foster progress in reaching agreement on
the security deal.
"After the Tehran summit we submitted our proposals on Caspian
security. Work on them is currently underway. We are trying to
finalize the agreement based on these proposals."
According to Khalafov, the date of the meeting will be known this
week.
The deputy minister said that if organizational issues are
resolved, a meeting of the Caspian states’ presidents might take
place by the end of 2010.
Khalafov said, further, that talks between Azerbaijan and
Turkmenistan on the legal status of the Caspian were underway.
"The potential of Turkmenistan-Azerbaijan relations enables us to
resolve this issue by diplomatic means."
Azerbaijan faces a long-standing dispute with Turkmenistan over the
possession of the Kapaz field in the Caspian Sea. The field,
referred to as Sardar by the Turkmen side, was discovered by
Azerbaijani oilworkers and holds an estimated 150 million barrels
of oil. During the Soviet times, the field was considered
"intermediate" due to its being located on the medium line between
Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan. A major dispute over possession of the
field emerged between the two countries in the 1990s. Turkmenistan
claims possession of Kapaz, while Azerbaijan has offered to jointly
tap the deposit.
A long road is also ahead in agreeing the status issue with another
coastal state – Iran. Tehran supports equal division of the basin,
saying each littoral state is to receive 20 percent of the seabed.
Also, Iran claims rights to the Alov field in the Caspian.
The coastal nations have been divided for many years on the status
of the Caspian, which is a source of huge hydrocarbon reserves.
Azerbaijan has signed agreements on dividing the Caspian into
national sectors with Russia and Kazakhstan.*
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