In 2011 no significant progress was made in resolving political
issues. One of these is the creation of the legal concept of the status
of the Caspian Sea. In parallel, in 2011 the idea of a trans-Caspian
gas pipeline ecame clearer. Dr Rustam Mamedov, professor of
political science at Baku State University talked to Vestnik Kavkaza
about the correlation between the undersea pipeline and the problem of
the sea's status.
According to him, the legal status of the Caspian Sea and the
Trans-Caspian gas pipeline are interdependent subjects. "There are
many obstacles and difficulties in the subject of the legal settlement of
the Caspian problem. However, it is good that Russia made the right
conclusions and entered into an agreement with Azerbaijan and
Kazakhstan, thereby reducing tension in the subject of the status of
the sea. However, the key contradiction in the definition of legal
conventions are still there. And above all, it's because of Iran's
position," Rustam Mamedov said.
The Azerbaijani political analyst said that "the Iranians still cannot
agree with the correct, in our view, free and democratic version of
the status of the Caspian Sea. They have the mistaken notion that if
such a status is established, then instantly the western states will be
comfortable in the Caspian countries and will start to put pressure
on Iran from the north. This is the flawed logic of Iranian foreign
policy. Because foreign and, above all, Western companies have long
been working in Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan. This was done
to attract foreign investment and oil and gas development for the benefit
of the peoples of our countries. It is not necessary to watch Iran
from the north. There are a lot of space satellites to do this."
According to the professor, the order makes it easier to resolve any
problems, including those in the Caspian region.
"I believe that Iran needs to adjust its position in the negotiation
process. We see that today Iran is in a mess - on the one hand, a
constant threat, on the other hand, the already difficult domestic
economic situation has deteriorated dramatically. We try to be friends
with them, but we understand that it is almost impossible,
because the Iranians conduct unreliable policies. Even Russia, despite
its strategic partnership with Iran, sometimes has doubts," Rustam Mamedov concluded.
