Khalaf Khalafov: It will be impossible to hold the meeting of Working Group for the Caspian Sea in November - INTERVIEW

Baku. 19 November. REPORT.AZ/ Deputy Foreign Minister, Azerbaijan’s plenipotentiary representative in the High-Level Working Group for the Caspian Sea Khalaf Khalafov’s interview with Report.

- There was a plan to hold the meeting of the Working Group for the Caspian Sea in November in Baku. Is the meeting still valid?

- We sent proposals to other Caspian countries for this purpose. But, unfortunately, it will be impossible to hold the meeting in  November. We’ll try to organize the meeting in the first half of December. We made such an offer to other partners and will make a decision after summarizing their responses. We intend to hold the meeting in the first half of December.

- Is the program of the meeting known?

- Yes, it’s known. We’ll firstly discuss the issues arising from Convention on the legal status of the Caspian Sea. At the same time, orders, recommendations, issues on fulfillment of adopted agreements in the Communique approved by the heads of states at the last summit will also be discussed.

- Spokesperson for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mariya Zakharova said at the briefing that the Commission for Conservation, Rational Use and Management of Water and Biological Resources of the Caspian Sea is planned to hold its second meeting in Azerbaijan. Are the preparatory works for the meeting underway?

- The sides are to hold a conference. This is an event to be held in accordance with the Tehran Convention. The main body from the Azerbaijani side is the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources. Ministry of Foreign Affairs is also participating in the coordination of these issues. Works in this regard are currently underway. Working groups have already met and discussed certain issues. Preparatory works for the conference are underway within this framework.

- What else is needed for solution of all issues regarding the Caspian Sea?

- A convention was adopted to this end. At the next stage, the document will be ratified by Azerbaijan and all other states. After completion of this stage, the issue of the convention enactment will be on the agenda. A special mechanism has been prepared for its implementation after entering into force. Within that mechanism, works in this field will regularly continue.