UN chief welcomes deal on Caspian Sea legal status

Secretary General of the United Nations Antonio Guterres has welcomed the signing of a deal on the legal status of the Caspian Sea by its five littoral states, saying it shows the importance of regional cooperation.

"The Secretary-General welcomes the signing of the Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea by Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia and Turkmenistan," the spokesman for the UN chief said in a statement issued on Monday.

"This historic document demonstrates the importance of regional cooperation, which is vital for maintaining international peace and security," he added.

The presidents of the five states bordering the resource-rich Caspian Sea signed the historic convention on the sea's legal status, which had been under discussion for more than two decades, after the 5th Caspian Summit in the Kazakh port city of Aktau on Sunday.

PressTV-Caspian states sign landmark legal status convention

The five Caspian Sea littoral states sign a historic convention on its legal status.

The Caspian Sea convention has been drawn up in 24 articles with the most important highlights being a ban on military presence of all foreign countries in the sea and transit of military consignments belonging to foreign countries.

The convention emphasizes that the Caspian Sea belongs to all littoral states, prohibiting the establishment and handing over of any kind of military bases to foreign countries.

The UN head's spokesman further said, "This historic document demonstrates the importance of regional cooperation, which is vital for maintaining international peace and security."

He added that Guterres has described the convention as a "significant step" to solve regional tensions and believes that it "should prove invaluable in regulating a wide range of longstanding issues among the Caspian Sea littoral states."

The UN chief took "this opportunity to congratulate the five signatory countries on this landmark achievement of regional cooperation and multilateralism," the spokesperson said.

In an address to the Fifth Caspian Sea Littoral States Summit, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said the sea is now a model for guaranteeing peace, stability and friendship.

PressTV-Caspian Sea, model for peace, stability: Rouhani

Iran's President Rouhani says the Caspian Sea is now a model for guaranteeing peace, stability and friendship.

Rouhani said, "Today, this region has turned into a successful model for guaranteeing peace, stability, friendship, good neighborliness and progress and this summit is another step toward more convergence in the region that needs to be strengthened by taking more steps."

The Caspian Sea is the largest enclosed body of water by area and is variously classified as the world's largest lake or a full-fledged sea.

The Caspian Sea littoral states have been discussing a convention on the sea’s legal status for years, which will finally turn out to be a comprehensive document outlining the duties and rights of the five littoral states as well as the framework of cooperation among these countries.

Read more:

• Good progress made on Caspian Sea legal status, deal expected Sunday: Iran
• Rouhani in Kazakhstan to sign landmark Caspian convention

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