(MENAFN- Trend News Agency)
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 30. A summit of the
presidents of five Caspian littoral states (Azerbaijan, Russia,
Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Iran) was held in the Turkmen capital
Ashgabat on June 29. A number of issues, including cooperation and
security were discussed at the summit.
'The Ashgabat Summit of the presidents of the Caspian littoral
states will lead to positive results. Because the relations between
the mentioned countries are at a required level. In this regard,
the countries can reach certain agreements,' former chairman of
National Security and Foreign Policy Committee of Iranian
Parliament Heshmatollah Falahatpisheh told Trend .
Falahatpisheh added that recently, the Iranian government has
further developed its political and economic relations with the
countries of Central Asia and the Caucasus, especially with
neighboring countries.
He also added that the Iranian government has chosen regional
cooperation with the Caspian littoral states as a priority. As a
result, there has been an unprecedented increase in the number of
visits and contacts between Iran and the countries of Central Asia
and the Caucasus in the last 10 years in various fields. This
reflects Iran's preference for cooperation with the countries of
the region.
'There are two important issues for the establishment of
infrastructure and increased security for regional cooperation
among the Caspian littoral states. These issues may result in a
further increase in the level of relations among the Caspian
littoral states,' Falahatpisheh noted.
As for the establishment of infrastructure for regional
cooperation, the official pointed out that the establishment of
railway lines among the five Caspian littoral states, the
construction of pipelines for bilateral and multilateral energy
exchange can further give impetus to the development of relations.
The Ashgabat Summit is important to allow Caspian littoral states
take steps in various areas, especially in the economic and trade
spheres.
In addition, bilateral meetings at the presidential level will
also contribute to the development of cooperation in various
fields, Falahatpisheh said.
In turn, Professor of Regional Studies at Tehran University
Elaheh Koolaee said that the geographical position of the Caspian
Sea has created favorable conditions for the establishment and
development of beneficial and constructive relations with the
littoral states.
The professor also pointed out that the Caspian Sea requires
constructive opportunities between the countries. So that future
generations will be able to take advantage of this opportunity,
just as people who have lived around this sea for centuries have
benefited from it.
Koolaee added that over the past years, the summits of
presidents of the Caspian littoral states have focused on issues
based on common interests.
'After the collapse of the USSR, the Caspian Sea attracted the
world's attention due to its rich hydrocarbon reserves and
increased production of these resources. This has further increased
the responsibility of the Caspian littoral states,' she said.
Due to the Caspian Sea being a lake and there is no way for
pollutants to escape from this basin, the cooperation of littoral
countries in protecting the marine environment is of great
importance, Koolaee noted.
The professor stressed that in this regard, environmental
protection is a priority. Cooperation between the Caspian littoral
states on transit and cargo transportation will serve their common
interests.
'One of the important issues at the meetings of the Caspian
littoral states is that the countries act in the direction of
regional interests, along with long-term and national interests,'
she said.
The ex-governor of Iran's Golestan Province Hadi Haghshenas said
that the Caspian Sea is of great economic importance to the Caspian
littoral states, especially in terms of oil and gas production,
transportation of agricultural products, as well as transit of
goods.
'It is usually a priority to establish economic ties between
countries around the seas around the world. The Caspian littoral
states are developing countries. In this regard, these countries
have great potential. Iran can move towards creating common
economic interests with the Caspian littoral states,' Haghshenas
added.
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