Baku and Ashgabat discussed the issue of dividing the bottom of the Caspian Sea

Baku/22.02.18/Turan: The first meeting of the Turkmen-Azerbaijani working group in the field of energy was held in Baku on the basis of the intergovernmental memorandum of understanding of August 8, 2017. The delegation of Azerbaijan was headed by Deputy Foreign Minister Khalaf Khalafov, and the Turkmen delegation was headed by Murad Atajanov, Chairman of the State Enterprise for Caspian Sea Issues. According to Turkmen sources, the parties discussed prospects for the development of energy cooperation between the two countries on the principles of equality and mutual benefit. The parties stressed that the agreement in Moscow at the end of last year of the draft "Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea" will serve to develop cooperation between the Caspian states in the Caspian.

The sides also discussed issues related to the division of the bottom of the Caspian Sea between Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan. Taking into account the high energy potential of the two countries, the participants exchanged views on the improvement of the legal basis for the Caspian Sea for the conclusion of joint energy projects at sea. The parties agreed to hold the next meeting in Turkmenistan.-02D-