Russia stands against division of the Caspian Sea into national sectors

Sergey Ivanov. ©RIA Novosti

Russia stands against division of the Caspian sea water area into national sectors, RIA Novosti reports. According to Russian Vice Prime-Minister Sergey Ivanov, the division will require reconsideration of the existing conditions of the sea's use. Moreover, certain types of Caspian resources, for example, biological water resources, are not dividable and require a coordinated policy from all the coastal countries in order for the species to be preserved. “Russia has always considered Caspian sea a unique intracontinental water body and stands against its division into national sectors, as it would call for major changes in the conditions of its use that have been in place for the last 70 years,” Ivanov said. Common problems of the coastal countries also include navigation security, environmental protection, especially in the area of emergency oil spills caused by the Caspian shelf exploration. Sergey Ivanov reminded that Russia already sucessfully solved the problem of delimitation of the Caspian sea bottom by signing respective agreements with Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan. Ivanov also said that this work has to be continued. 28th meeting of the work group to discuss preparation of the Convention Defining the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea was held in Baku, Azerbaijan on April 26-27. The sitting was attended by Deputy Foreign Ministers of the Caspian Sea region countries.

Russia stands against division of the Caspian sea water area into national sectors, RIA Novosti reports. According to Russian Vice Prime-Minister Sergey Ivanov, the division will require reconsideration of the existing conditions of the sea's use. Moreover, certain types of Caspian resources, for example, biological water resources, are not dividable and require a coordinated policy from all the coastal countries in order for the species to be preserved. “Russia has always considered Caspian sea a unique intracontinental water body and stands against its division into national sectors, as it would call for major changes in the conditions of its use that have been in place for the last 70 years,” Ivanov said. Common problems of the coastal countries also include navigation security, environmental protection, especially in the area of emergency oil spills caused by the Caspian shelf exploration. Sergey Ivanov reminded that Russia already sucessfully solved the problem of delimitation of the Caspian sea bottom by signing respective agreements with Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan. Ivanov also said that this work has to be continued. 28th meeting of the work group to discuss preparation of the Convention Defining the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea was held in Baku, Azerbaijan on April 26-27. The sitting was attended by Deputy Foreign Ministers of the Caspian Sea region countries.

Russia Kazakhstan Kazakh Caspian Sea