Tehran dissatisfied with the environmental state of the Caspian

Tehran is not satisfied with the environmental state of the Caspian Sea and is calling on the littoral states to engage in dialogue to resolve the problems. As reported by 1news.az citing PortNews, this was stated yesterday by Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki, speaking at a meeting of the working group of the five Caspian states at the level of deputy foreign ministers.

"Fortunately, the dialogue between the littoral states has reached a stage where a final settlement of the legal status of the Caspian Sea has become a realistic goal," the head of Iran's foreign policy department stressed.

According to him, "the legal status of this sea must be drawn up in such a way that it meets the expectations and needs of the peoples of the Caspian countries, both present and future generations."

M.Mottaki pointed to the need "to take into account the long-term interests of the states of the region, to take measures to ensure security and stability on this sea, to protect the fauna and flora of the Caspian, and also to strive to turn the region into a zone of economic prosperity."

At the same time, he noted that "an acceptable situation in the Caspian in terms of ecology and the conservation of its biological resources is still a long way off."

"Our states need to implement existing agreements even more seriously, pursue appropriate national policies and continue dialogue at the regional level," the head of Iranian diplomacy believes.

The minister also said that the initiative of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to establish an organisation for economic cooperation among the littoral states will be discussed at the upcoming economic conference of the Caspian countries at the level of deputy prime ministers in Astrakhan this summer.

"The Islamic Republic has carried out preparatory work for successful participation in this meeting and expects more information from its Russian colleagues regarding the details of holding the meeting," he concluded.

1news.az