Caspian Sea Status Remains Uncertain

Five years after meeting in Turkmenistan, the leaders of the five near-Caspian states—Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Russia, Turkmenistan and Iran—gathered during the second summit in Tehran to continue discussions on the legal status of Caspian Sea.

In the summit’s Final Declaration, the parties only mention unobjectionable positions on the future status of the Caspian Sea. The positions on which the heads of state disagreed are not included and become subjects for their future discussions. The countries are on record as stating that the Caspian Sea is a region exclusively under their jurisdiction and that they are committed to work for its prosperity and peace. “We spoke very frankly, in detail and in an interested fashion. We did not reach agreement all the time on everything, but it is very clear that we desire to find a consensual arrangement,” Russian President Vladimir Putin said at the joint press conference following the summit.

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