THE KASPI ADJOINING OWNERS " SECTIONS " THE KASPI SEA








MOSCOW, 13 March.  (RIA "Nowosti" rIA-"Nowosti"-Korrespondent).
Viktor Kaljushny, representative of the president of Russia for the
Kaspi sea and vice-minister of foreign affairs, left into the
kasachische capital Astana, in which on Tuesday the second round of
the bilateral negotiations is held over the right status of the Kaspi
sea.

In the focus of the meeting is the definition of the principle of the
methodology, according to which the so-called modified center line is
determined, which will define the kaspischen sea-bottom between Russia
and Kazakhstan.

The declaration/agreement to execute this meeting was fixed in the
agreement, which the presidents of the two countries Vladimir Putin
and Nursultan Nasarbajew signed 1998.  The drawing of this line is "
already the second phase when defining of the new status of the Kaspi
sea ", said Kaljushny before its departure for Astana.

The positions of Moscow and Astanas for the determination of the new
status of the Kaspi sea correspond practically in all aspects.  Russia
and Kazakhstan suggest dividing the sea-bottom between all Kaspi
adjoining owners after the modified center line as waters is to the
common use as such at the disposal.

This position followed after the recent Baku attendance of Vladimir
Putin also Aserbaidshan, to divide which required beforehand, the
sea-bottom and waters starting from the modified center line on into
national sectors.

Iran requires on the other hand, the Kaspi sea in the general use too
leave complete or waters into national sectors " according to the
principle of the Kondominiums " to divide i.e. 20 per cent for each
coastal state.  Into the last time this position supported actively
also Aschchabad.  At the last meeting of the working groups for the
Kaspi sea in January, which was executed on the level of the
vice-Ministers in Teheran, however Turkmenistan gave itself to
understand that it is ready in principle, the position of Moscow to
attach branch to and Bakus.

Besides the pages on the negotiations in Astana will treat the
affiliation of some controversy places on the northern continental
shelf of the Kaspi sea.  They will discuss in particular the
principle, according to which the status of the three islands is
determined, on the requirement both Russia and Kazakhstan to raise.
The involved ones will discuss also the preparation to the summit the
Kaspi adjoining owner, who is set for April.