Azerbaijani MP: Systematic discussions over determination of Caspian's legal status are very important

It is very important for the special working group to conduct systematic discussions over determination of Caspian's legal status, MP Mubariz Gurbanli, Deputy Executive Secretary of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party (NAP) told the official website of the NAP.

The discussions held in Baku today are of great importance, he said.

An agreement on Caspian's status was signed with Iran already during the post-Soviet period, Gurbanli said.

He said that following the collapse of the USSR, the issue of Caspian status occupies one of the most important places in the relations between the countries.

Initially every littoral state pursued its own interests in the issue of Caspian status, the YAP Deputy Executive Secretary said. As a result of policy determined by the nationwide leader Heydar Aliyev, Azerbaijan reached accord with Russia and Kazakhstan over Caspian status issue, he noted. But Turkmenistan and Iran keep different positions. Along with that, this matter is examined by specialists, and the work of specification of Caspian status is underway.

Azerbaijan’s position in this issue is based upon international norms and principles, Gurbanly believes.

He also reminded about the importance of the Joint Agreement and the Agreement of cooperation in the sphere of Caspian Security, which had been signed by the Presidents at the summit of the heads of Caspian littoral states in Baku last November. These documents are very important from the point of view of security, Gurbanli said.

"The raised Caspian security initiatives and the reached agreements have great importance for the Caspian littoral states. Keeping peace and security in the region and making the Caspian a demilitarized water basin coincide with the interests of Azerbaijan and the rest littoral states.

The Agreement of cooperation in the sphere of Caspian security serves to the idea of establishing peace and prosperity in the Caspian. We hope that serious accords in this direction will be achieved at the next, Moscow summit as well," the MP said.


/Trend/