5 littoral states must reach consensus over all legal regimes of Sea: Rouhani

TEHRAN– Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said Convention on Caspian Sea’s Legal Status will urge all legal regimes of the sea to be implemented through unanimous decisions made by its 5 littoral states.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani briefed media prior to departing Mehrabad airport to attend the Caspian Sea summit in which a number of important and strategic documents for cooperation will be signed by the five countries bordering the sea.

Rouhani described Caspian Summit in Kazakhstan as an important event and pointed out that the reason is the basic principles to be discussed in relation to the Caspian Sea legal status,

according to the Mehr News Agency.

Asserting that his visit to Kazakhstan has been made upon the invitation of Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev, Rouhani said his one-day visit will include talks over the Sea issues.

Pointing to the Convention on Caspian Sea’s Legal Status, Rouhani said “all legal issues of the Caspian Sea are to be resolved only by five littoral states; this is a very important point and completely separates the legal status of this sea from the Convention on the Law of the Sea.”

Rouhani said the Convention completely prohibits the movement of foreign military vessels in the sea, which is of great importance to the national security of the Caspian littoral states.

Stating that some issues have been determined in the Convention and some others have remained for the future, the President added “in addition to this important and basic document, some other documents will be signed in the visit regarding economy, transportation and combatting terrorism and organised crimes.”

“Caspian Sea littoral states have very good potentials and opportunities, especially regarding economy, transportation, goods transport and tourism, which will be discussed in the summit,” he added.

President Rouhani also said “Iran and many Asian countries will be connected to Central Asia, Caucasus, Russia and Europe through the two major corridors in the east and west of Caspian Sea.”

During his visit to Kazakhstan, Rouhaniwill hold bilateral meetings with his Kazakh counterpart Nursultan Nazarbayev and a number of other heads of state to discuss relations.

M.Wassouf