25.07.2009. Today, President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov chaired a sitting of the Cabinet of Ministers. Presenting the agenda focused on collaboration with the neighbouring states in the Caspian region the Turkmen leader focused on significance of the issues under discussion in the context of the goals ad priorities of the national policy.
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chairman of the State Enterprise for the Caspian Sea Related Issues under President of Turkmenistan T. Komekov reported on the results of the Turkmen-Azerbaijani talks on the demarcation of the seabed and depths of the Caspian Sea, which had been held in Baku on July 15-17. It was reported that despite Turkmenistan’s efforts the partners had not reached a consensus on this issue for the difference in the countries’ views on the disputed oil and gas deposits in the central part of the Caspian Sea.
Commenting on the report, the President said that the Caspian Sea related problems, in particular harmonization of the principles of delimitation of the Caspian Sea and demarcation of the seabed and depths were a top-priority and urgent task for Turkmenistan.
Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov noted that the practice of unilateral actions on the Caspian Sea particularly to develop the deposits, on which the states concerned had not reached an agreement, was inadmissible. Abiding by the fundamental principles of international cooperation Turkmenistan put the issues concerning disputed deposits on the agenda of the Turkmen-Azerbaijani talks several times. However, Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan had not reached an agreement.
The President noted that this situation hampered full-scale development of the natural riches of the Turkmen sector of the Caspian Sea, held back the implementation of the important programmes on economic development of the region, maintenance of ecological wellbeing of the seas and seaside. In this regard Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov instructed Vice Premier R. Meredov to involve recognized international experts, highly qualified lawyers to study the legitimacy of Azerbaijan’s claims on the disputed offshore deposits and the participation of the foreign oil and gas companies in exploration and development of these deposits and then submit the documents to the International Arbitral Tribunal for review.
Summing up the conversation Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov emphasized that Turkmenistan had no claims for anybody else’s territory and stood steadfast to fair division of the unique water body, harmonization of interests of all the littoral states on a basis of the universally recognized norms of international law and best international practices of determination of maritime boundaries.
Source: Turkmenistan - the Golden Age - http://turkmenistan.gov.tm/_en/
