Azerbaijan’s approach to delimitation of disputed water areas is more common: expert

Day.Az: What prompted the dispute regarding Kapaz (Serdar) field?  Is this issue is so acute that Turkmenistan has decided to sue Azerbaijan at the International Court of Arbitration?

Sabit Bagirov: I guessed from the media reports that Turkmenistan has not yet applied to court. This claim is not new. It was made back in mid-1990s. At that time Turkmenistan laid claims to Azeri and Chiraq fields.

The problem is that the status of the Caspian Sea between Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan have not yet been resolved and approaches of the two countries to determine the dividing line is different. Azerbaijan is based on the middle line determined by equidistant of opposing points of the coastline. Turkmenistan is also based on the principle of the middle line, but determined by the middle of geographic latitude. As a result, two different dividing lines are proposed.

I should also note that Azerbaijan’s approach to delimitation of water areas is more common and more often used in such matters.

I hope that we will be able to negotiate with Turkmenistan. I can say that first talks on Kapaz (Serdar) field began in 1991-1992 with the U.S. company Apache. But later it was decided to suspend negotiations. But they continued on the remaining fields.

Q: Why Turkmenistan made this statement precisely at this time?

A: I attribute it to some delay in the development of bilateral relations. I believe that Azerbaijan should be ahead of that event. We need to lead in the development of relations with Turkmenistan , because it is extremely interesting country for Azerbaijan. Turkmenistan is not only historically close to Azerbaijan, but both countries are interested in the development of bilateral relations in many spheres, including energy.

Special policy must be worked out with regard to Turkmenistan and we must act in advance, that is, there are many points of mutual interest between the countries and they must be used so that disputes over the afore-said fields will not appear.

Q: What impact can this dispute have on realization of the Nabuco project?

A: I think the Nabucco project has nothing to do with these matters and it will move forward regardless of the issues relating to the delimitation. Nabucco is in the interest of both countries and advance the project is more dependent on the development of further initiatives of the European Union.

/Day.Az/