Turkmenistan, Ashgabat, March 30 / Trend , G.Hasanov/
Two Caspian littoral countries Turkmenistan and Iran will hold talks on the Caspian Sea in Ashgabat on March 30. Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhammedov and Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Mahdi Safari will meet for this purpose, an official Turkmen source said.
The Caspian Sea acute problem occurred after the collapse of the Soviet Union resulting in rise of littoral states to 5 - Azerbaijan, Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Iran. Changes in the geopolitical situation entailed a necessity of major changes in international relations in the Caspian region. The Caspian Sea, rich in hydrocarbon stocks and biodiversity, also became the subject of heightened interest of the West. A number of coastal countries faced controversies on bordering oil fields.
While on a visit to Iran in mid-February, Berdimuhammedov signed a joint statement with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad stating that "a soon settlement of the legal status of the Caspian Sea on a pentalateral basis will further enhance peace and security, sustainable development, comprehensive economic cooperation between Caspian littoral states, will create favorable conditions for effective and rational development of hydrocarbons and biological resources of this unique sea".
"Only littoral states should make decision on all matters relating to the Caspian Sea," the document says. The parties welcomed implementation of the Framework Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Caspian Sea (Tehran Convention), and stressed the need to develop and adopt protocols for the Convention, including a protocol on regional preparedness, response and cooperation in the event of accidents causing oil pollution.
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