Turkmenistan’s President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow stressed that the Caspian Sea littoral states need to show more flexibility to resolve their problems and reach an agreement about Caspian-related issues. Addressing the second summit of the Caspian Sea Littoral States here in Tehran Tuesday morning, Berdimuhamedow expressed the hope that the summit would lead to palatable agreements, and underlined the need for the littoral states to adopt a new approach towards Caspian Sea issues.
He further noted the first summit of the heads of the Caspian States in Ashgabat five years ago, and said that settlement of issues and specification of a legal regime for the Caspian Sea would materialize through interaction and cooperation of the littoral states.
The Turkmen leader also said his country believes that a more appropriate condition and ground should be provided for the achievement of comprehensive agreements among the five littoral states.
He reiterated the need for the Caspian states to show more flexibility in resolving their issues, and called for regular annual meetings among foreign ministers of the five countries.
Berdimuhamedow assured that his country would make its utmost efforts to help specify a proper legal regime for the Caspian Sea, and added, “Unilateral action in the Caspian Sea is not acceptable to Turkmenistan and cooperation should also take place in multilateral forms.”
He also underlined that Turkmenistan would voice support for the draft statement of the summit, saying, “We believe that this statement is an important document for the continuation of talks and agreements on the Caspian Sea.”