Great potential available for Caspian littoral countries’ economic cooperation

There is great potential for economic cooperation of the Caspian littoral countries, Iran’s Ambassador to Azerbaijan Mohsen Pak Ayeen told Trend.

“The businessmen of the private sector of these countries will be an impetus for strengthening economic ties between the two countries,” he said.

"The entrepreneurs of the private sector of these countries can play an effective role in strengthening ties among the Caspian littoral countries and be an impetus for the development of these relations," he said.

The diplomat added that Iran's fundamental policy is to strengthen the friendly relations with neighboring countries.

"To resolve the status of the Caspian Sea, such comprehensive methods must be used to ensure long-term interests of the Caspian littoral countries," he said.

Pak Ayeen said that not only oil and gas resources of the sea, but also the issues of security and protection of the ecology are important.

"Safety means the stability,” he said. “It is achieved by ensuring security of the economic development."

“Iran believes in the effective debate on the legal status of the Caspian Sea on the basis of international norms and hopes that the member-states will achieve significant progress in this area at the Astrakhan Summit,” he said.

The presidents of the five Caspian littoral countries, namely, Azerbaijan, Russia, Iran, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan met in Astrakhan Sept. 29. A number of documents will be adopted and a political declaration will be signed following the summit. This declaration will be the basis for a future convention on the legal status of the Caspian Sea.

The document will include the issues of creating a sovereign zone of the countries, fishing area, as well as provisions that make the presence of the armed forces of non-regional countries in the Caspian Sea impossible.

This declaration in the form of a convention will be adopted at the summit, to be held in Kazakhstan next year.

/Trend/