[NYTr] Caspian states adopt declaration on repelling aggressors

[All the News That Doesn't Fit]

RIA Novosti - Oct 16, 2007
http://en.rian.ru/world/20071016/84185487.html


Caspian states adopt declaration on repelling aggressors

TEHRAN, October 16 (RIA Novosti) - The five Caspian Sea littoral
states adopted a declaration at their second summit on Tuesday in
Tehran, pledging to deny access to third countries who intend to
use force against any Caspian state.

"The parties stress that they will not allow other countries to use
their territories for acts of aggression or other military operations
against any party," the declaration reads.

The signatories pledged efforts to build and enhance mutual confidence,
regional security, and stability, and to refrain from the use of
force in solving mutual problems.

Participants said in their joint declaration that the Nuclear
Non-Proliferation Treaty was vital to international stability and
security.

The five countries - Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia, and
Turkmenistan - confirmed "the unassailable right of all signatories
to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty to research, produce, and
use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, without discrimination,
and within the provisions of this treaty, and the safeguards of the
IAEA [International Atomic Energy Agency]," the statement said.

The declaration also asserts the countries' "responsibility for
damage inflicted on Caspian resources and to any Caspian state from
the use of the Caspian Sea and development of its resources."

The five nations acknowledged that "Caspian resources, and the sea's
sturgeon population, require the adoption of joint emergency action
to prevent negative environmental consequences."

The summit participants said a future convention on the legal status
of the sea should respect sovereign rights of Caspian states, and
include environmental regulations, navigation norms and economic
rules.

The declaration also spoke for "peaceful, just and stable solutions
to conflicts in line with the United Nations charter, also taking
into account sovereignty, territorial integrity and the inviolability
of internationally recognized borders to ensure security, peace and
stability in the region."

Summit host Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said the declaration
was a strong response to those who seek to damage cooperation between
Caspian nations.

"Those opposed to peace and friendship among Caspian nations pursue
their illegal interests, and the declaration by the heads of Caspian
countries is a strong response to them," he said.

Ahmadinejad said agreements reached at the summit were a turning
point in Caspian cooperation. "Besides signing the first political
document [a joint declaration], we agreed to establish a Caspian
economic partnership organization."

The president said that next summer would see an economic conference
of Caspian states held under the chairmanship of the Russian
president, which will be attended by premiers and economics ministers.

The Iranian leader said an agreement had been reached that the
foreign ministers of the littoral states would meet twice each year,
and the presidents once a year. "The next summit of Caspian nations
will be held in Baku in October 2008 and hosted by Azerbaijani
President Ilham Aliyev," Ahmadinejad said.