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Kharrazi: Condominium concept best solution to Caspian Sea issue |
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Tehran, July 29, IRNA -- Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi here on Monday said that "the Islamic Republic of Iran regards continuation of common sovereignty as the best alternative to finding a legal regime for the Caspian Sea. Talking at the opening session of the seventh Caspian Sea working group meeting here, he said, "Iran considers commitment of the five littoral states based on 1921 and 1940 agreements between Iran and former Soviet Union as the most important factor to strengthen cooperation in the Caspian Sea." "Any unilateral measure or agreement that fails to consider the consensus among Caspian littoral states will never help resolve the disputes, (but) rather will merely foment misundestandings," Kharrazi said. He stressed that the littoral states of the Caspian sea are required to take steps to finalize the legal status of the land-locked sea by continuing negotiations in an atmosphere of understanding and flexibility. The aim, of course, is to reach an agreement which takes into consideration the long-term interests of all coastal states as well as consolidate peace and security in the region. Kharrazi expressed satisfaction over the rising trend of cooperation and coordination between the five Caspian Sea littoral states, particularly past negotiations on its legal regime, but noted that the talks have not been "adequate." "The littoral states should try to use the opportunities to solve disputes regarding the Caspian sea legal regime, and forge a cooperation to face possible problems in the future," the Iranian minister added. He described as illegal such activities as drug trafficking, terrorism, organized crime and depletion of resources of the inland sea as "common threats to the region and the whole world. Kharrazi reiterated Iran's support for regular negotiations among the Caspian littoral states in order to reach a final common ground, and reiterated Iran's call for application of the condominium concept or common sovereignty on the Caspian Sea with each state receiving a minimum share of 20 percent if the other four littoral states agree on a division. Today, the five littoral states, namely Iran, Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan have still to come up with a formula to chalk out the legal status of the inland sea. The seventh Caspian working group meeting opens at the Foreign Ministry's Institute for Political and International Studies here today. The Foreign Ministry's Information and Press Department said that representatives of the five Caspian Sea littoral states will address the two-day meeting on subjects related to fisheries, environment, commerce, transportation and energy. Earlier meetings of the working group were held in Moscow, Almaty, Tehran, Baku, Astana and Moscow. |
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