Iranian official: Nothing can impede cooperation among Caspian countries

The agreement on the preparation of the next summit of the Caspian States' Leaders reached at today's meeting of the Caspian countries' deputy foreign ministers demonstrate a desire for cooperation, Adviser to Iranian President for Caspian Sea Affairs and Deputy Foreign Minister Mohamed Mehdi Akhundzadeh said in Baku today.

"We were able to overcome serious problems and previously signed a framework agreement on environmental security in the Caspian Sea, and today we intend to sign an agreement on security cooperation in the Caspian Sea," Akhundzadeh told reporters in Baku.

According to him, this document will be the second golden page in the history of the cooperation among the Caspian countries after the framework agreement on environmental security in the Caspian Sea.

"After the signing of this agreement, we can move to work in other areas, and no factor can prevent cooperation among the Caspian countries," he said.

Kazakh Foreign Ministry's representative Zulfiya Amanzholova said Astana believes the implementation of this document's paragraphs will contribute to achieving an agreement among other government bodies of the Caspian countries. She said at this meeting, the Kazakh side voiced the initiative to develop a draft agreement among the border services.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said the participants of today's event agreed on a number of issues.

"The upcoming Baku summit of the Caspian littoral states scheduled for November imposes responsibility on the participants of today's event for the preparation of this Summit and the results to be achieved there," Ryabkov said.

The Russian delegation intends to work constructively in this meeting, he said.

In November 2003, the Caspian countries signed the Framework Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Caspian Sea.

In July 1998, Russia and Kazakhstan signed an agreement on the delimitation of the northern part of the Caspian Sea in order to exercise sovereign rights for subsoil use.

On Nov. 29, 2001 and Feb.27, 2003, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan signed an agreement on the delimitation of the Caspian Sea.

Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Russia signed an agreement on the delimitation of adjacent sections of the Caspian Sea on May 14, 2003.


/Trend/