RUSSIA AND AZERBAIJAN REACH PRINCIPAL AGREEMENT ON CASPIAN SEA DIVISION

Russia and Azerbaijan reached a principal agreement on Caspian sea division, Russian Vice Premier Viktor Khristenko told journalists in St Petersburg on Sunday. He noted that though the document was in the process of coordination, the coordination did not deal with geographic coordinates of the dividing lines.

According to the Vice Premier, the cartography issue is closed and there won't be any return to interpretation and analysis of these indicators (division coordinates).

Khristenko noted that there are some technical irregularities on certain legal aspects connected with the special status of the Caspian sea. However, these differences, according to the Vice Premier, will not prevent us from using the Caspian sea resources. The possibility to explore deposits is fully normal and legal, Khristenko said. He noted that next steps to determine the status of the Caspian are being coordinated.

Speaking on Russia's cooperation with other countries of the Caspian region, Khristenko pointed that one can expect non-ordinary decisions on transport cooperation with Kazakhstan. In particular, the Vice Premier did not rule out the possibility of common usage of ships for transportations of oil and cargo with Kazakhstan.