Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry responds to Ashgabat

“Azerbaijan has expressed attitude to Turkmenistan’s position during negotiations on numerous occasions,” Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister Khalaf Khalafov said commenting on Turkmen Foreign Ministry’s statement which said that the Absheron peninsula and Chilov Island must not be taken into consideration while determining median line for delimitation of the Caspian Sea between Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan, Turan news agency reported.

“So, base lines are set to determine coordinates of the median line. Base lines are set on the basis of the configuration of each country's shoreline. However, Turkmenistan refuses to take into account the configuration of the Absheron peninsula and Chilov Island,” Khalafov said.

“Absheron Peninsula lies 60 kilometers into the Caspian Sea. Here the capital of Azerbaijan is locates and is home to one third of the population. All this means that Absheron is a geographical peculiarity and can not but to be take into account when determining the median line.

Regarding the Chilov Island, it is located eight miles from the coast and is an integral part and extension of the continental coast of Azerbaijan. Thus, the Absheron Peninsula and the Chilov Island is an important geographical and legal elements in determining coordinates of the median line between Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan. Thus, Turkmenistan’s claim is unfounded,” Khalafov said.

In response to a question whether an appeal to the International Court of Arbitration is a way out,  Khalafov said that Baku is ready to use all diplomatic means to deal with this issue. This includes international mechanisms, including judiciary.

When asked about Azerbaijan’s stance on Kapaz field, the deputy minister said even in the USSR times  the median line passed through this field situated on the border between the two states. According to documents of the Soviet times, each republic had acted in its sector. Fields belonging to sectors were also identified.

Kapaz was called “Intermediate” and this is reflected in the documents of the USSR Ministry of Oil and Gas. At the same time, the field belonged to the Azerbaijani sector, he said.

In addition, Azerbaijani oilmen conducted  geological survey and drillig in Kapaz.

Therefore, delimitation of the Caspian Sea is necessary to fully address the issue. Only after that, a decision can be adopted on Kapaz field, he said.

How can such a harsh statement by Turkmenistan’s Foreign Ministry be explained given the thaw in bilateral relations? In response Khalafov said in recent months the countries could resolve several disputed issues including Azerbaijan’s gas debts. Humanitarian and cultural relations revived and bilateral economic commission was launched.

Turkmenistan wants to address the issues of the Caspian Sea involving international experts and court and this is country’s right. However, the potential to resolve the issue between the two nations is not exhausted and it can be resolved through negotiations, he said.

As to a question about Iran’s stance on delimitation of the Caspian Sea, he notes disagreement on the definition of the median line. “This is a legal question and should be resolved within a legal framework. Thus, since Soviet times there was the maritime boundary with Iran through the Astara-Hasanguli line.

Economic activities are also conducted within this line. However, from an international point of view, this has not been confirmed. It was the practice abided by all parties, he said.

Regarding Azerbaijan’s attitude to Iran's claims on Alov, Araz and Sharq fields, Azerbaijan has discovered them and studied their geology. To prevent confrontation because of these fields Azerbaijan has ceased work on them. It was agreed that Iran and Azerbaijan will not unilaterally work there until the delimitation of the sea completes, Khalafov said.

/ANS-PRESS/