Grigory Karasin: A number of issues do not advance as rapidly as we would like in the five-party discussions on the legal status of the Caspian Sea

"A number of issues do not advance as rapidly as we would like in the five-party discussions on the legal status of the Caspian Sea. Obviously, each littoral country should contribute to seeking balance of interests. The attempts to solve these problems only for yourself, ignoring the positions of other countries cause complications. Yet the prospects for achievement of settlement are high," Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia Grigory Karasin said in Astrakhan after the meeting of the ambassadors of the Caspian littoral states last week.

Noting the importance of the third Caspian summit held in Baku last November, Karasin said the presidents issued a joint statement and passed two important decisions on the delimitation of the Caspian basin and imposition of a five-year moratorium on the fishing of sturgeons.

"The heads of states reached these agreements during the talks, the agreements had not been put on paper beforehand. The expert groups are working to realize these agreements," he said.


/APA/