"Iran believes that the energy and economic issues should not distract the Caspian littoral countries from the issue of security of the sea. The Caspian Sea is of great importance for the littoral countries, and negligence against it could lead to terrible consequences," the Iranian Foreign Minister, Manouchehr Mottaki said on Oct. 8, speaking at the meeting on the problems of the Caspian Sea in the Iranian city of Rasht, ISNA reported.
According to Mottaki, the Caspian Sea must be a sea of peace, friendship. "The Caspian Sea should be involved in military issues, but at the same time, we need a mechanism to carry out security measures with the participation of joint forces and equipment against possible threats," the Iranian Minister said.
He said the cause of tension, besides the Caspian countries, could be other states or organizations (ships not belonging to the littoral states) operating on the Caspian Sea.
Iran is against of the division of the Caspian Sea to the north and south, said Mottaki. "The issues relating to the Caspian Sea are connected with each other. The events that occur in both the north and south of the Caspian Sea, can affect each other. The incident in the northern part of the sea will have an impact on its southern part. It is wrong to violate the general position of the littoral countries by similar geographical division. Iran considers the "Northern Accord" wrong," he said.
According to Mottaki, the decision on the status of the Caspian Sea and other issues should be taken with the participation of five countries. "If this is not so, then the decision will lose its power," said the Iranian Foreign Minister.
