Teheran: Legal Status of the Caspian Sea should be Based on USSR-Iran Treaties

The legal status of the Caspian Sea must be based on the USSR-Iran treaties signed in 1921 and 1940, Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi said in an exclusive interview with RIA Novosti.

Mr Kharrazi pointed to the usefulness of his Caspian Sea talks with Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov but said all the Caspian states should agree on the sea's comprehensive legal status.

The Iranian foreign minister welcomes oil cooperation in the area but believes it of primary importance to agree upon common territories and territories of each state.

Mr Kharrazi said that the just division of the Caspian Sea would facilitate the negotiations on territories and cooperation. Negotiations with Azerbaijan are underway to clearly divide resources of the Sea which must be regarded from the scientific point of view. Mr Kharrazi pointed to the common position of Turkmenistan and Iran on the Caspian Sea issues.

The Iranian minister said that the USSR-Iran treaties signed in 1921 and 1940 must be instrumental in defining the comprehensive legal status of the Caspian Sea.