Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan expected to sign agreement on Caspian Sea legal status: deputy FM

Azerbaijan expects signing of an agreement with Turkmenistan and rapprochement in stances of all the Caspian littoral states regarding determining the Caspian Sea status in the near future, Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister Khalaf Khalafov told reporters on Oct. 21.

"We hope that Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan will sign a cooperation agreement," Khalafov said at a meeting on security in the Caspian region.

"I believe that the Caspian littoral states have reached an agreement and the relevant bodies and institutions will contribute to our cooperation in all fields."

The current meeting is a very important in determining legal status of the Caspian Sea and to resolve all issues pending from the Tehran summit, where the first agreement on cooperation of Caspian states was signed, he said.

Khalafov said that one of the final decisions adopted by Heads of State at the Tehran summit is aimed at ensuring mutually beneficial cooperation and the development of effective mechanisms of internal bodies, border and customs services.

Khalafov said another important point was the division of the water surface of the Caspian Sea.

Rapprochement among the Caspian littoral states in recent years makes it possible to believe that these countries will reach an agreement soon, Azerbaijani deputy foreign minister said.

/Trend News/