Intˈl Conference On Security In Caspian Region Held In Moscow

Moscow, June 21, IRNA – An international conference on security in the Caspian region was held in Moscow on Thursday. Representatives from Iran, Russia, Azerbaijan Republic, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan attended the conference. Iranˈs Deputy Foreign Minister and director of international research and education Hadi Soleymanpour explained Iranˈs stances concerning Caspian Sea related issues in the one-day meeting. Referring to talks between five littoral states of the Caspian Sea, Soleymanpour said that fortunately, as a result of negotiation between the five littoral states, documents for protection of maritime environment of the Sea dubbed as ˈTehran Conventionˈ and three annexed protocols as well as cooperation agreement on security in the Caspian Sea have been finalized and all five countries have signed them and they are passing their internal approvals. He added that considering upcoming summit meeting in Astrakhan, other documents in the field of fishery cooperation as well as cooperation in the emergency situations in the Caspian Sea are on agenda of talks. Regarding security issues in the Caspian Sea, signing cooperation agreement in the third summit meeting in 2010, which is passing its approval trend in the parliaments of the five littoral states, was a framework of agreement whose main principles and goals were fight against terrorism, organized crimes, drug smuggling, money laundering, providing security for shipping, pirates, illegal fishing. He added that Iran has always underlined that the Caspian Sea should be a place of peace, understanding, friendship and cooperation and believes that all related issues in this sea should be settled by mutual understanding and by considering long interests of the littoral states. Soleymanpour continued that there exist plenty of capacities for expansion of cooperation between the five littoral states and offered a number of propositions in this concern to be on agenda of the 4th summit meeting. Director General of Russian Institute for Cooperation in the Caspian Sea Sergey Mikheyev, underlined friendship ties and cooperation in the sea, which owes to cooperation between the littoral states. He warned that the region is in center of attention of a number of foreign states, which would be an important challenge in the region. The Russian official said that west is interfering in domestic affairs of other countries , so we should consider the threat seriously. Director of Russian Institute for Strategic Studies Leonid Reshetnikov also said in the meeting that efforts of littoral states caused strengthening stability and security in the Caspian Sea and they should not allow other countries to interfere in the area. Director for Oil Researches Center of Azerbaijan Republic Aleman Nasirov also stressed that his country wants strengthening and consolidation of security in the Caspian Sea and in this direction is ready for development of cooperation with the others littoral states./end