Azerbaijan, Baku, Nov. 22 / Trend E. Kosolapova/
Regulation of the Caspian Sea status is a strategically key issue for Kazakhstan, Kazakh Foreign minister Yerzhan Kazykhanov said in his opening remarks to the 30th session of the special working group for developing the Convention on the legal status of the Caspian Sea, Kazakh Foreign ministry reported.
"Regulation of the Caspian Sea status and establishment of the legal framework of international, political, economic and cultural cooperation remain a strategically key issue for Kazakhstan," Kazykhanov said.
According to Kazykhanov, Caspian Sea problem first of all touches upon the territorial issues. Its settlement will promote the mutually benefitial cooperation of the Caspian littoral states in the most important sectors of economy.
"We all strive to elaborate efficient mechanisms for the protection of national interest and we aim at ensuring consistency and efficiency of our strategies," Kazykhanov stressed.
In November 2003, the Caspian countries signed the Framework Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Caspian Sea.
Russia and Kazakhstan signed in July 1998 an agreement on the delineation of the northern part of the Caspian Sea to exercise sovereign rights for subsoil use.
Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan signed an agreement on the delineation of the Caspian Sea on Nov. 29, 2001, and Feb. 27, 2003.
Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Russia signed an agreement on the delineation of adjacent sections of the Caspian Sea on May 14, 2003.