ID :
325887
Wed, 04/23/2014 - 08:13
Auther :

Zarif: Caspian Sea Legal Regime Should Meet Demands Of Littoral States

Moscow, April 23, IRNA -- Foreign Minister Mohammad-Javad Zarif said on Tuesday that the Caspian Sea Legal regime must be drawn up in a way to meet demands and expectations of the present and future generations of the Caspian Sea littoral states. Zarif made the remarks in a meeting with the Caspian Sea foreign ministers in Moscow. He said, Iran believes that all should opt for a comprehensive policy to meet the long-term interests of all the neighboring states. The legal regime should meet demands as well as expectations of all literal states, he said. Unfortunately, some trans-regional powers see the Caspian Sea as the oil and gas resources and ignore the issue of environment as well as the need to preserve sustainable peace and stability in the region, he said. Zarif said the Islamic Republic believes that the Caspian Sea is a Sea of peace, friendship and stability. He called on the neighboring states to renounce arms race and militarization of the Caspian Sea to guarantee peace and stability in the Caspian region. Such security will bring economic boom and welfare for the people of the region, he said. Fortunately, all sides have signed MoU on security of the Caspian Sea and all are eager to reach agreement on expansion of military cooperation among Caspian Sea littoral states, he said. The political leaders of the five Caspian Sea are determined to safeguard the Sea as Sea of peace and friendship, development, mutual cooperation as well as good neighborly relations, he said. Zarif said that the Caspian Sea literal states have undertaken to observe previously inked agreements 1921 and 1940 by the time the new Caspian Sea Legal regime to be implemented. Talks on safeguarding the environment of the Caspian Sea and taking measures by the neighboring states to thwart degradation of environment of the Caspian Sea and protecting the ecosystem of the marine creatures will continue, he said. The Islamic Republic of Iran voices readiness to finalize the Legal Regime of the Caspian Sea and be accepted unanimously by the literal states, he said. Meanwhile, Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said heads of Caspian Sea literal states pay due attention to promotion of welfare and friendship among the nations. Political relations between Caspian Sea literal states are promoting and all are experiencing expansion of commercial and culture ties, he said. Zarif led a delegation representing Iran to the foreign ministers meeting of the Caspian Sea littoral states in Moscow./end

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