Iran says Caspian Sea Legal Regime nears agreement by littoral states

TEHRAN, Dec. 5 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said Tuesday that the Caspian Sea littoral countries have reached a consensus on the bulk of the sea's long-awaited legal regime, Tasnim news agency reported.

The five countries neighboring the Caspian Sea share the view that the sea's issues should be addressed only by the littoral states and have agreed to ban all foreign military forces from entering the sea, Zarif was quoted as saying.

He stressed the need for "fairness" and "mutual respect" in demarcation of maritime boundaries in the Caspian Sea, saying that disagreements on demarcation of the zones could be resolved through "closer interaction and mutual flexibility by all parties."

Iran is ready to let other Caspian states have access to international waters when it comes to the transportation of goods or oil and gas transfer, he added.

Zarif also said that the five littoral states could establish a joint investment fund, coordinate customs affairs and unify the tariffs, found joint transportation companies, and move to remove visa requirements for trips among them.

Heading a delegation of political and legal experts, Zarif is in Russia's Moscow for the ministerial meeting, to prepare a summit of Caspian leaders, due to be held in Astana of Kazakhstan.

The ministerial meeting focused on the draft document of the Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea.

The Caspian Sea Convention will determine the territorial rights of the littoral states as well as other matters related to the world's largest landlocked body of water. Enditem