Landmark Convention on Caspian Sea Legal Regime Signed in Kazakhstan

The convention was signed by President Hassan Rouhani of the Islamic Republic of Iran, President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation, President Nursultan Nazarbayev of the Republic of Kazakhstan, President Ilham Aliyev of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow of the Republic of Turkmenistan.

The signing ceremony was held in Aktau, Kazakhstan, after a meeting between the five leaders on Sunday.

High-ranking officials of the five Caspian Sea littoral states also signed six cooperation documents in the presence of the five presidents.

Protocol of cooperation in the fight against terrorism in the Caspian Sea, protocol of cooperation in the fight against organised crime in the Caspian Sea, agreement between the governments of the Caspian Sea littoral states on economic cooperation, agreement between the governments of Caspian Sea littoral states in the field of transportation, agreement in preventing accidents in the Caspian Sea, and protocol of cooperation and interaction of the border authorities of the Caspian Sea countries were the documents that were signed by the five countries in order to further strengthen their cooperation in the Caspian Sea region.

 

New Step for Further Cooperation

Speaking in a joint press conference in Aktau, President Rouhani stated that by signing the Caspian Sea Legal Regime Convention, a new step has been taken for better relations between the five littoral countries of the Caspian.

“Today, the five Caspian Sea littoral states took very important steps for strengthening regional security and better relations between each other, as well as taking better advantage of the Caspian Sea.”

“Relations of Iran with Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, the Russian Federation and Azerbaijan have always been friendly and close and this is the main factor for signing such agreements,” he added.

He also said that one of the very important achievements of the Caspian Sea Legal Regime Convention was that it ensures security and stability in the sea.

“Being explicitly stated that the Caspian Sea belongs only to the five littoral states and also stipulating that no foreign force and military vessel is able to be present in it and that maritime security is exclusive to the five littoral states, and also stressing the fact that the territories of none of the Caspian Sea region state can be used against another country means that the stability and security of the sea is important.”

 

Tehran Ready to Help Boost Regional Trade

Earlier in the day, Rouhani also told the summit that Tehran is prepared to use its maritime access in the north and south to play a strategic role for development of trade and transportation in the region.

Speaking on Sunday at Caspian Sea Littoral States Summit, President Rouhani said, “Today, this region has turned into a successful model for guaranteeing peace, stability, friendship, good neighbourliness and progress and this summit is another step for further convergence in the region that needs to be strengthened by taking more steps.”