Declaration of the Azerbaijan Republic, Islamic Republic of Iran, Republic of Kazakhstan, the Russian Federation and Turkmenistan

of October 16, 2007

Presidents of the Azerbaijan Republic, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Russian Federation and Turkmenistan, on behalf of the states which further are referred to as with the Parties

having supported the initiative of the president of the Islamic Republic of Iran mister Mahmoud Ahmadinejad about convocation of the second meeting of presidents of the Caspian states,

having discussed on October 16, 2007 in the city of Tehran in the atmosphere of mutual understanding and constructibility the urgent international and regional problems which are of mutual interest, condition and perspectives of multilateral cooperation, and also the questions connected with work progress by determination of legal status of the Caspian Sea

being convinced that development of cooperation of five Caspian states on the basis of friendship and neighborliness is equitable to radical interests of their people, is important factor of ensuring regional security,

relying on the general aspiration of five states to strengthen friendship and mutual trust, to resolve all issues in the spirit of equality and mutually advantageous partnership taking into account their interests,

considering the changes and processes which happened in the region of the Caspian Sea at the geopolitical and national levels, the available arrangements between five Caspian states, and in this communication need of enhancement of legal regime of the Caspian Sea and the fastest adoption for this purpose of the Convention on legal status of the Caspian Sea,

aiming to create favorable conditions for providing the sovereign rights of the Caspian states on the Caspian Sea, and also to settle the questions connected with legal status of the Caspian Sea and use of its resources in the spirit of mutual understanding and cooperation

proceeding from readiness to support regular contacts between Chapters Caspian the states, including in five-sided format, and to exchange opinions on the major bilateral, regional and international problems,

confirming commitment to the purposes and the principles of Articles of organization of the United Nations, to the universally recognized norms of international law, including respect of sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and sovereign equality of the states, nonuse of force or threats of its application,

declare as follows:

I

1. The parties will promote in every possible way that the Caspian region was the region of the world and stability, sustainable economic development and prosperity, neighborliness and equal international cooperation of the coastal states. They are complete of determination to interact closely with each other on multilateral and bilateral bases in political, diplomatic, trade, economic, scientific and technical, cultural and humanitarian and other areas.

2. The parties support carrying out on regular basis by agreement of the Parties of meetings of heads of the Caspian states and, during the period between them, - meetings of Ministers of Foreign Affairs, and also authorized experts of the Parties for consideration of all complex of the questions connected with the Caspian Sea.

3. Aiming to use effectively the rich capacity of the Caspian region and considering favorable perspectives of its development, the Parties will deepen dialogue and interaction in the economic sphere, especially in energy and transport areas.

4. The parties will promote effective use of transport capacity of the region, including by forming and development of the international transport corridors.

II

5. The parties declare that only the coastal states have sovereign rights concerning the Caspian Sea and its resources.

6. The parties confirm that comprehensive legal status of the Caspian Sea will be determined by the Convention on legal status of the Caspian Sea as the basic document which adoption is possible only on the basis of consensus of the coastal states.

7. The parties agree that before determination of new legal status of the Caspian Sea in its water area the modes of navigation, fishery and navigation of vessels only under flags of the Caspian countries shall act the realization of their sovereign rights approved on the basis.

8. The parties declare that development of comprehensive legal status of the Caspian Sea and the fastest conclusion for this purpose of the Convention on legal status of the Caspian Sea are the major task. The convention as the basic document of legal status of the Caspian Sea shall regulate questions of implementation of jurisdiction of the Caspian states on the basis of respect of their sovereign rights in the Caspian Sea, including the principles and regulations regulating protection of the environment and rational environmental management, including use of biological resources of the Caspian Sea and mineral resources of its bottom and subsoil, navigation, and also other questions concerning activities on the Caspian Sea.

9. The parties declare that final approval by all Caspian states of the questions connected with differentiation of bottom of the Caspian Sea for the purpose of subsurface use will be performed taking into account their sovereign rights and in case of respect of legitimate interests of each other.

10. The parties agreed to continue approval of question of establishment in the water area of the Caspian Sea of zones of the approved width and general water space, and also legal regimes corresponding to them.

11. Understanding the responsibility before present and future generations for preserving the Caspian Sea and integrity of its ecological system, the Parties emphasize importance of cooperation increase in the solution of environmental problems, including coordination of national nature protection activities and interaction with the international nature protection organizations, for the purpose of forming of regional system of protection and preserving biological diversity, rational use and reproduction of its biological resources.

The parties are recognized that the condition of the environment of the Caspian Sea, its sturgeon population requires acceptance of immediate common efforts for prevention of undesirable ecological effects. In this regard the Parties will continue forming in priority procedure for the necessary contractual legal base of regional nature protection cooperation on the basis of the Convention on legal status of the Caspian Sea.

The parties expressed satisfaction with entry into force of the Framework convention on protection of the marine environment of the Caspian Sea signed in November, 2003 in Tehran and emphasized need of the fastest development and approval of additional protocols to it.

The parties also noted need of the fastest final approval of points of order of this Convention, especially by determination of the location of permanent secretariat of the Convention.

12. The parties confirm the principle of responsibility of the Caspian states for the damage caused to the environment of the Caspian Sea and each other as a result of activities for use of the Caspian Sea and development of its resources.

13. The parties declare that the Caspian Sea shall be used only in the peace purposes, and all issues on the Caspian Sea will be resolved by the Caspian states by peaceful means.

Disclaimer! This text was translated by AI translator and is not a valid juridical document. No warranty. No claim. More info