Moscow - In a meeting of Caspian Sea littoral states in Moscow on Monday, Irans representative, Mahdi Sanaei, suggested that Caspian Sea Cooperation Organization be formed.
The meeting comes a week before a foreign ministers meeting and the 4th summit of heads of state of Caspian Sea littoral states due to be held five months later.
Mahdi Sanaei who is Irans ambassador to Russia, said formation of the Caspian Sea Cooperation Organization could pave the way for further expansion of multilateral cooperation among littoral states.
Sanaei dismissed any kind of intervention by foreign countries in the course of talks, saying, maintenance of peace and security in the region depends on unity and cooperation of littoral states.
The Iranian envoy also voiced Irans readiness to provide Caspian Sea littoral countries with access to Persian Gulf which he said could be an important step towards economic cooperation among the five countries.
Elsewhere in his remarks, Sanaei called on the five nations to make every effort to protect environment and avoid energy transfer plans which could lead to pollution of Caspian Sea.
He reiterated that legal regime of Caspian Sea is still based on 1921 and 1940 treaties between Iran and former Soviet Union according to which there are no borders in the Sea.
Sanaei noted that for implementation of energy transfer plans in Caspian Sea the agreement of all five littoral states is required.
Iran has welcomed all initiatives regarding the Caspian Sea and paid due attention to interests of all littoral countries in different meetings and will do the same in the future, Sanaei said.
© IRNA 2014
