Russia is interested in the sustainable development of the Caspian Sea and the full-scale implementation of its economic and transport and logistics potential to the benefit of all coastal countries (Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Iran, and Kazakhstan). This follows from the statement by Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko at the VIII Caspian Media Forum in Astrakhan.
“The Caspian Sea, with its geographical location, huge resource potential, and the factor of interweaving of civilizations living here, is of great importance for the Russian Federation,” Rudenko said. “In the current difficult geopolitical conditions, we attach key importance to the joint maintenance of peace, stability, and security in the Caspian region without outside interference.”
Rudenko said that important tasks include ensuring the rational use of resources, protecting and preserving the natural environment of the Caspian Sea, and ensuring environmental and transport security in the Caspian water area.
He also mentioned the acute problem of the shallowing of the Caspian Sea and said that “these and other Caspian issues should be resolved exclusively by the five coastal states, as stipulated by the Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea.”
“Russia stands for the full development of systemic cooperation within the framework of the Caspian Five and the gradual institutionalization of this process,” the Russian Deputy FM said. “We are actively working to expand ties with our neighbors in the region in all areas, including the most important topics of people’s diplomacy and social media announced today.”
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The Caspian Media Forum is organized annually by the Government of the Astrakhan region. It provides a platform for government officials, businesses, academic circles, non-governmental organizations, and the media of the Caspian countries to exchange views on topical areas of five-sided cooperation in the Caspian Sea region.
This year, the forum, which was held on 18-19 September, was attended by delegations from Azerbaijan, Belarus, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.
///nCa, 20 September 2023
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