Gulieva M.E. Convention on the international legal status of the Caspian Sea – an agreement that would determine the future of the region

Abstract: This article reviews the question of the international legal status of the Caspian Sea, which is fi rst and foremost the question of the ownership of the waters and the resources within. In addition to everything else, it is the question of national security of each of the Caspian states. It is the reason why the discussion of this topic has endured for more than a century. But if before the last word belonged to the power, today the highest signifi cance lies in the economic gain. The international legal status of the Caspian Sea became the key aspect of the foreign policy of the Caspian fi ve for over 20 years. The littoral states currently put forth all possible efforts in order to resolve this drawn out problem. Despite that this agreement has been proposed as a multilateral agreement and as a declaration, but ultimately remained as a convention on the defi nition of the international legal status. The main purpose was: to delimit sea borders, rights and responsibilities of the littoral states and therefore, divide the reach mineral deposits of the Caspian Sea. The author came to the conclusion that as it currently stands the question of the project of an agreement on the international legal status of the Caspian Sea is yet to be resolved. Acceptance of the Convention is expected to take place during the fi fth summit of the heads of the Caspian states, which is planned to be held in Kazakhstan. Thus multilateral document will fi nally solve the age old question: is the Caspian a sea or a lake?!

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