MOSCOW, November. 28 /TASS/: Moscow and Astana consider it important that the Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea enter into force as soon as possible. This is stated in the declaration adopted by the Presidents of the two countries, Vladimir Putin and Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.
"The Russian Federation and the Republic of Kazakhstan stress the need for the earliest entry into force of the Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea dated August 12, 2018, compliance with all the principles of the activities of coastal states on the Caspian Sea provided for by this convention in order to increase the effectiveness of Caspian cooperation, the implementation of the sovereign and exclusive rights of the countries of the Caspian region, as well as for the exercise of their jurisdiction," the document states.
Moscow and Astana consider the convention as a reliable legal basis for the further development of the Caspian Sea region as "a zone of peace, good neighborliness, friendship and cooperation, maintaining and strengthening security and stability, creating an atmosphere of trust, mutual understanding and mutual respect, and observing the interests of all the Caspian states."
The convention enshrines the sovereign rights of the coastal countries of the Caspian to its resources, the exclusive competence of such states to resolve all issues related to the Caspian Sea, as well as the provision on the non-presence of extra-regional armed forces in the Caspian. Moscow has repeatedly noted that it considers it important that the convention enters into force as soon as possible. It has now been ratified by all countries except Iran.
