V.KALUZHNY: CONVENTION ON CASPIAN LEGAL STATUS MAY BE ADOPTED NEXT YEAR

Russian Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Victor Kaluzhny stated that Convention on Caspian legal status might be adopted in 2004 after solution of all disputable issues, ITAR TASS reports.

Victor Kaluzhny, Russian President’s special envoy for Caspian Sea also noted that 60% of the Convention has been already prepared, and problems of ecology fully confirmed. Problems of maintaining military forces in the Caspian Sea, inland waters, as well as opportunities of ships crossing through Russia inland waters are in the focus. According to him, such problems have to be solved on the level of the heads of states.