 | Caspian legal status issues in focus |
Issues relating to the legal status of the Caspian and positions of coastal nations were in the focus of a meeting between President Aliyev and Russian deputy foreign minister and Russian President's Caspian status negotiator Viktor Kaliuzhny on Friday. By Saba Agayeva & Firuza Baymammadqizi Azernews Staff Writer
Saying that each of the coastal nations has its own position in the status issue, President Aliyev said all countries' views must be based on international legal norms. The President then recalled of his negotiations with President Putin in Baku and Sochi, indicating that they had agreed on the division of the Caspian seabed first of all.
Mr. Kaliuzhny updated President Aliyev on the negotiations he had held in Tehran. He said the Azeri President's upcoming visit to Iran could facilitate solution to the Caspian status problem. The Russian diplomat termed Turkmenistan's position towards the issue as non-constructive.
Concerning the latest incident between Iran and Azerbaijan in the Caspian, Mr. Kaliuzhny said the parties should seek a compromise. It is also important to hold a summit of littoral nations, he said.
Mr. Kaliuzhny left for Moscow Friday.
President stands for demilitarization of Caspian
"I don't think Caspian coastal countries will be warring with each other and using warships. Caspian must become a sea of peace, brotherhood and cooperation", President Aliyev told deputy foreign minister of Iran and Tehran's Caspian status negotiator Ali Ahani Wednesday.
The visitor supported H. Aliyev's statement saying that his country's President adheres to the same position. Speaking of the Caspian status talks, the President expressed his disappointment with the fact that the Caspian summit has been postponed. President Aliyev also voiced his discontent with the fact that Mr. Ahani visited Turkmenistan and Russia first instead of starting the tour with Azerbaijan.
According to the Iranian diplomat, the differences over the Caspian status issue do not yet mean any animosity between the two countries. He said that as a result of his negotiations in Baku the parties had decided not only to continue political discussion on the problem but also to embark on expert consultations. Mr. Ahani believes that if the positions of Baku and Tehran become nearer, the problem solution will be facilitated for all littoral nations.
With regard to the closeness of the two countries, President Aliyev highlighted the importance of a negotiated settlement to arising problems. He said Azerbaijan is a small country and has yet to resolve the Garabagh problem. Therefore, it is not going to resort to force in dealing with disputed questions with its neighbors. "Iran is a big country. It must not threaten its neighbors with force, especially Azerbaijan", H. Aliyev said.
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© 1998-2003 Azernews. All Rights Reserved.
Issue No.N36 (218), 2001
New era in oil industryCaspian legal status issues in focusForeign minister off to MoscowUpper Garabagh NGOs in BakuNationOpposition newsBusinessOil & gas news
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