Moscow, April 14, AZERTAC

The Convention on the legal status of the Caspian Sea is almost ready for signing, the Russian President`s special representative on delimitation and demarcation of Russian borders with CIS countries, Ambassador at large of the Russian Foreign Ministry Igor Bratchikov said.

Addressing the International economic forum "Caspian Dialogue" in Moscow, Bratchikov said that the Convention is almost ready, with the absolute majority of provisions agreed upon. “These provisions harmoniously balance the needs of all five parties and do not infringe the national interests of any country,” he pointed out, adding that there are only one or two problems remained unsolved.

Britchikov recalled that during the Fourth Caspian Summit, which was held in Astrakhan in 2014, the leaders of the Caspian littoral countries "have reached truly breakthrough agreements, laying a framework for the future Convention on the legal status of the Caspian Sea.”

Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Russia, Imangali Tasmagambetov, said "the Caspian is not only a place where the geopolitical and military-political interests of regional powers are intertwined, but this is primarily a hub connecting the transcontinental routes of the Great Silk Road."

Earlier, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that the work on the Convention is expected to be completed at the next meeting of foreign ministers of the Caspian countries. He made the statement following talks with his Azerbaijani counterpart Elmar Mammadyarov.

Farida Abdullayeva

Special correspondent