Azerbaijani experts: Baku summit to provide basis to define Caspian Sea status

Azerbaijani political scientists believe that the Baku summit of Caspian littoral states will provide a basis for determining the status of the Caspian Sea.

"The frequent summits of Caspian countries are bringing the countries closer to a solution to the problem," Azerbaijani political scientist Aydin Mirzazade told Trend. "I hope that the Baku summit will find new solutions. We will hear many interesting statements and witness collaborative arrangements between the heads of states on other issues."

Baku will host the summit of the Caspian littoral countries on Nov. 18. A security cooperation agreement covering the Caspian Sea is expected to be signed at the Baku summit. Mirzazade said the intensity of the negotiations in recent months and the frequent summits held on the status of the Caspian Sea are attracting the attention of political observers.

"Apparently, the persons negotiating on behalf of the heads of states have reached some intermediate results," he said. "In connection with this, there is a need for their presidents to express their views on this issue. On the other hand, even if there are no such results, such meetings reinforce relations among neighboring countries, and also create opportunities for strengthening the legal status of the sea and achieving certain preliminary results."

According to the analyst, defining the Caspian Sea's status is not only important for the region, but rather for the entire global community.

"This region plays a very important role in the development of world processes," he said. "This is a very sensitive region and violating this stability may have a negative effect on the processes occurring in the world."

Political analyst Rasim Musabeyov also believes that the Baku summit will have a positive impact on the prospects of determining the status of the Caspian Sea.

"The summit will agree on security issues in the Caspian Sea," he said. "The most recent summit agreed on issues of the environment. I do not exclude that an exchange of views on the status of the Caspian Sea may lead to the adoption of a general agreement."

However, he noted that agreeing on any one key issue would also create the opportunity for a convergence on other major questions.


/Trend/