Speech of Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov at 4th Caspian Summit

By turkmenistan.ru


Dear heads of state! Dear members of delegations!

First of all, allow me to thank President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin for the high level of organization of the Astrakhan Summit, the atmosphere of cooperation and wish everyone successful work. I am sure that our work within the framework of the Summit will conduce constructive consideration of Caspian problems and improvement of efficiency of joint work for creation of a legal basis for five-sided cooperation on the Caspian Sea.

In this regard, I would likely to give special emphasis to the top-level state meeting as the main factor in activation of the negotiation process of the Caspian Sea. It is known that the First Caspian Summit was held in Ashkhabad in 2002. According to our deep confidence, it was the Ashkhabad meeting of heads of Caspian states that stimulated the definition of the main lines of cooperation of coastal states, development of mutually acceptable approaches to solving many problems associated with cooperation on the Caspian.

Its results became the basis for successful hosting of Caspian Summits in Tehran in 2007 and in Baku in 2010. The results of the aforementioned three forums created a firm fundament for formation of a qualitatively new attitude towards the Caspian. Since the start of the top-level state Caspian meetings, our countries have been working together in practically all issues of partnership on the Caspian Sea. The decisive characteristic of the process has been the fact that the multi-sided dialogue for the Caspian theme should be made with full account taken of the interests of all the participants, based on the principles of equality and mutual respect. That is the only way we can consistently progress towards achievement of common solutions, reach concrete results and agreements.

Turkmenistan has always taken as a premise that five-sided cooperation on the Caspian is a unifying factor reflecting the striving of our states for peace, consent and effective international cooperation. That is why any issues, even the most complicated ones, should be discussed in a situation of true good-neighbourliness and close partnership cooperation.

Undeniably, in order to progress, we need to form a modern legal basis for interstate relations on the Caspian Sea. In this context, I would like to emphasize that the work on the project of the Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea is going positively. So far, we have achieved great rapprochement of positions in most provisions of this important document. The decisive meaning of the document is our common adamant striving and resolve to make the Caspian a zone of peace, an important component of international strategic stability and security, an example of solutions to all issues solely through political and diplomatic means, based on respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of countries. The project of the Convention has some discordant moments, but I think that with consolidation of our common efforts we will develop corresponding mutually-acceptable solutions.

For that purpose, in addition to the work of the Special Working Group, I consider it rational to activate the format of meetings and consultation on the level of foreign ministers of Caspian states. The basic principles of life on the Caspian, a key element of the future legal status, is the basis of the Declaration of the Astrakhan Summit of heads of state. Signing of the important document will encourage the establishment of the results achieved in forming modern and sustainable rules of conduct on the Caspian.
Dear participants!

Turkmenistan attaches the most important value to issues of cooperation on the Caspian in separate sectors. It is known that preservation of the water biological resources of the Caspian Sea was discussed at the Baku Summit in 2010. Understanding the topicality of the problem, our country proposed development of the Agreement on Preservation and Rational Use of the Water Biological Resources of the Caspian Sea.
We are convinced that solutions for preservation of bio-resources should be systematic, via new, clearly-set international and legal mechanisms that should also reflect limited measures for catching especially valuable breeds of fish. Systematization of relations in the sector, formation of efficient, international practice-based foundations for cooperation will encourage the creation of the Commission for the Water Biological Resources of the Caspian within the framework of the Agreement of the Coordinating Organ.

Turkmenistan initiated and developed a project of another important document - the Agreement on Cooperation in Prevention and Liquidation of Emergency Situations on the Caspian Sea. Caspian is a zone of higher natural and technogenic risks threatening the ecological system of the sea. That is why creation of effective multi-sided mechanisms of cooperation in prevention and neutralization of emergency situations is a priority.

Using the opportunity, I would like to thank the heads of the Caspian states and their governments for supporting Turkmenistan's initiatives in development of the aforementioned Agreements and their proposal for signing at the Astrakhan Summit.

It is known that Turkmenistan is currently chairing the Coordinating Committee for Hydrometeorology and Monitoring of Pollution on the Caspian Sea (KASPKOM). We approach the mission with a great deal of responsibility and believe that joint work within the framework of KASPKOM is an important part of our common efforts to preserve the unique natural heritage of the Caspian. In this context, I would like to note that our countries have managed to finally accord with the Agreement on Cooperation in Hydrometeorology of the Caspian Sea. I am confident in actuality of the signed document, aiming at systematization of the work of the Caspian states in the sector.

Dear participants!

We consider activation of trade-economic ties to be one of the main courses for development of cooperation between Caspian states. The volumes of mutual trade of our countries is reflected in impressive indicators. However, taking into account the enormous natural resources, energy, industrial, transport-transit and other potentials of the coastal states, we can say with full confidence that we have every opportunity for great intensification of economic cooperation and bringing it to a qualitatively new level.

Naturally, systemic relations in the economy can be formed with legal and organizational mechanisms. In this regard, I offer consideration of preparing a project of the Agremeent on Trade-Economic Cooperation between the Caspian states.

I am sure such a multi-sided document will boost the expansion and strengthening of our economic ties. Their activeness is to a large extent associated with regularity of contacts between government structures and business circles of our countries. That is why formation of a constant Caspian Economic Forum, the sessions of which coastal cities of our countries will host in turns, has been proposed.

Today, the role of the Caspian Basin as the largest transportation network on the Eurasian continent objectively grows. It is a strategic course that opens prospects for sufficient intensification of trade-economic ties between Caspian states, in their entrance to the world markets. We are talking about the formation of a completely new architecture of relations between the Caspian states in the transportation sector.

The territories of our countries are a natural geographic space connecting Asia and Europe, maintaining effective functioning of transportation-transit and trade corridors in the East-West and North-South directions. In this aspect, I believe that our countries need to put maximum efforts in the near future to form new transportation lines between the Caspian, Black and Baltic Seas. In addition, we assume that there needs to be serious work on formation of a transportation network connecting the Caspian Region with the Middle East and the Mediterranean, South and South-East Asia. Practical realization of these goals primarily depends on a firm legal basis regulating relations in the transportation sector.

Considering this circumstance and the importance of mutual integration of transportation systems of Caspian states, coordination of multi-modal shipments on regional and global levels, we consider it rational to develop a project of the Agreement on Cooperation in Transportation on the Caspian Sea. We suppose that formation of the Caspian Regional Transportation-Logistical Center as one of the main elements for practical realization of such cooperation is important.

Dear heads of state!

The basin of the Caspian Sea is swiftly turning into one of the largest world centers for extraction and transportation of hydrocarbons. This is an objective fact that needs appropriate study. Turkmenistan is convinced that cooperation of Caspian states in the energy sector is highly farsighted and promising, capable of giving a boost to regional and international development, investment activity, have a positive influence on the common geopolitical situation in this part of the world.

We presume that the interests of our countries in the energy sector on the Caspian have no deep controversies. And I would like to emphasisemail particularly that we are opposed to imbuing any unresolved problems here with a political tone. This fully refers to prospects of building pipelines under the Caspian Sea. This issue needs strict respect for commonly-recognized legal norms, principles of mutual respect and taking into account partners' interests.

Turkmenistan is adamant that construction such pipelines is the sovereign right of the countries through whose underwater sections they run, and that is why it can only be done with their permission. Naturally, with respect for the highest international ecological norms. Maintenance of firm stability and security is the main condition of our successful cooperation on the Caspian, a guarantee for solutions to all existing issues.

Today, the process of multi-sided cooperation of Caspian states, the rapprochement of the positions of the countries on the issues has become systemic. In this regard, I would like to thank the presidents of the Azerbaijan Republic, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Russian Federation for their big personal contribution to development of good-neighbourliness and partnership on the Caspian, constructivism and respect.

I also thank experts of the five countries for professional work in preparing documents for the summit.
Using the opportunity, I would like to thank the authorities of the Astrakhan Oblast for their hospitality and kindness, and wish the region, an economic partner of Turkmenistan, prosperity and wellbeing.