Baku Did Not Receive Turkmenistan’s Notification of Intent to Bring Kyapaz Dispute to International Court – Azeri Foreign Ministry
Azerbaijan has not received Turkmenistan’s official notification of intent to bring the dispute about the Kyapaz (Serdar) oil field in the Caspian Sea to the International Court of Arbitration, according to Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Elmar Mamediarov who spoke at a press-conference on July 9. The Minister noted that Azerbaijan, Russia, and Kazakhstan agreed to divide the Caspian in accordance with the centerline principle, and said that if Turkmenistan adhered to the same position, the disputes over the disputed territories would become easier to resolve. “We are ready to settle this issue with Turkmenistan according to the stated principle,” said Mamediarov.
Source: regnum.ru
Turkmenistan Did Not Send Azerbaijan Note Regarding Kyapaz Gas Field – Azeri Foreign Ministry
Turkmenistan did not send Azerbaijan any suggestion or note of protest regarding the Kyapaz oil field, said Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Elmar Mamediarov at press-conference on July 9. According to earlier reports, Turkmenistan conducted explorations on the disputed Kyapaz oil field (called Serdar in Turkmenistan), in violation of existing agreements, which triggered a protest from Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry. In turn, Turkmenistan’s Foreign Ministry stated that on June 16 an official notification, in the form of a diplomatic note, was sent to Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry, protesting Azerbaijan’s response.
Source: trend.az
Turkmenistan Insists It Sent Azerbaijan Note of Protest and Notification to Bring Dispute to Court
“With regards to the statements made by Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister, Elmar Mamediarov, saying that Turkmenistan did not officially inform Azerbaijan of its intent to bring the Serdar gas field dispute to international arbitration, Turkmenistan’s Ministry states that numerous diplomatic notes were in fact sent to Azerbaijan protesting Azerbaijan’s illegal actions in the Caspian Sea (i.e. exploration and development of gas fields Omar and Osman) [Azeri and Chyrag - Trend], as well as illegal demands regarding the Serdar (Kyapaz) field. In its official notifications, Turkmenistan expressed readiness to continue negotiations on this issue, and stressed that should agreement not be reached, Turkmenistan reserves the right to apply to international courts and arbitration institutions,” - says Turkmenistan’s Foreign Ministry. The Ministry also claimed that on August 4, 2009, it published a statement expressing Turkmenistan’s official position regarding delimitation of the Caspian territory and resources between Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan, which also stressed the advisability of addressing international courts for dispute resolution. Turkmenistan continues to express its readiness to negotiate the Kyapaz/Serdar issue further, says Turkmenistan’s Foreign Ministry in a statement released on July 10 by Turkmenistan’s Embassy in Azerbaijan. “Considering all the abovementioned, Turkmenistan expresses its indignation and incomprehension regarding the statements of Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister,” says Turkmenistan’s Foreign Ministry.
Source: trend.az
Turkmenistan’s Decision to Go to UN Court – Useless Initiative: Azerbaijani Expert
“Before Turkmenistan can go to the UN International Court, Ashgabat must recognize this court’s jurisdiction,” says Professor Rustam Mamedov of Baku State University, an Azerbaijani expert on Caspian issues. According to Mamedov, ”if Turkmenistan does not recognize the court’s jurisdiction, there can be no dispute regarding this issue. Neither Turkmenistan, nor Azerbaijan, recognizes the UN International Court’s jurisdiction. Recognizing jurisdiction means that a country undertakes an obligation to adhere to any decision of the court. Azerbaijan very vocally expressed its position, which has clear legal grounds. Nobody can file a claim against Azerbaijan regarding this issue. I think it’s high time we stopped discussing this subject. It’s not the first time Turkmenistan makes illiterate statements on this subject. It doesn’t want to recognize the UN court’s jurisdiction, but wants it to make a decision. With regards to the International Court of Arbitration – agreement of both parties is required to address this court… We can file a well grounded counterclaim. And let the court decide, who is right and who is wrong.”
Source: echo-az.com
Turkmen Official Describes Turkmenistan’s Position Regarding Disputed Gas Fields
On July 5, Turkmen state media published a statement of the Head of the Legal Department of State Enterprise on the Caspian Sea under the President of Turkmenistan, Dyrdy Durdyev: “Turkmenistan supports delimitation of the Caspian Sea in total accordance with international law. Turkmenistan’s position, stating that the Caspian Sea territory and resources are to be divided between Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan along the centerline with consideration for all factors and circumstances present in the area of delimitation, is in full and complete accordance with the international law.” Currently, Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan are disputing ownership of three fields – Serdar/ Kyapaz, Omar/Azeri, and Osman/ Chirag – located in the disputed territory of the Caspian Sea.
Source: zerkalo.az
Negotiation Potential on Caspian Sea Status Not Exhausted – Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry
The next round of negotiations regarding the status of the Caspian Sea is to be held before September, said Azerbaijan’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Khalaph Khalaphov on July 9. “The negotiation potential on the Caspian Sea status is not exhausted, and it shall be used in settling this issue,” said the Deputy Minister. According to Khalaphov, general issues with regards to the status of the Caspian are to be resolved in a multilateral format, by all five Caspian littoral states. Currently, the parties are working on a draft convention on the status of the Caspian Sea.
Source: trend.az
OSCE Holds Regional Media Conference in Ashgabat
On July 5-6, in Ashgabat, the Office of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media conducted its 14th regional media conference for Central Asia, “From traditional to online media: best practices and perspectives.” It was the first OSCE Central Asia Media conference held in Ashgabat. Journalists and official representatives of all Central Asian countries – Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, as well as Afghanistan -- took part in this event along with international and regional experts.
During the conference, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Dunja Mijatović, called upon the authorities in Central Asia to ensure that the Internet is a free and open space and to guarantee freedom of the media and expression online.
Source: OSCE, osce.org
Radio Liberty Correspondent Not Permitted to Participate in Media Conference in Ashgabat
According to Radio “Liberty,” a correspondent of RFE/RL's Turkmen Service was barred from attending the regional media conference conducted in Ashgabat by the Office of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media. OSCE representative, Dunka Mijatović, told RL/RFE that she was unaware of the incident.
Sources: gundogar.org, rferl.org
Role of US Companies in Turkmenistan Increases - Ambassador
The US Ambassador to Turkmenistan, Robert Patterson, in his speech dedicated to the 236th anniversary of US independence, welcomed the increased role of American companies in the Turkmen economy. "Turkmenistan and the U.S. have developed mature relations which has created the conditions for fruitful cooperation in many areas over 20 years of diplomatic relations," the Ambassador said.
Source: trend.az
Ashgabat Quietly Builds Up Caspian Military Might
When it comes to the brewing arms race in the Caspian Sea region, no one can accuse Turkmen leader Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov of navel-gazing. Ashgabat is now able to back its claims to some energy-rich patches of the sea with considerable firepower, and is challenging Iran as the second, after Russia, leading naval power on the sea, says Joshua Kucera in an article for Eurasia.net, citing one of Russia’s major military magazines Natsionalnaya Oborona.
Source: eurasianet.org
President: Turkmenistan Committed to Defensive Military Doctrine
Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, at a meeting of the State Council for Security, said that "the State is successfully implementing a military doctrine of a purely defensive nature," the Turkmen government reported on July 4. Turkmenistan has adopted a military doctrine, the essence of which has remained unchanged in recent years - defensive capability, a policy of positive neutrality, and refusal to participate in military and political blocs. According to Berdymukhamedov, the country will focus on strengthening the resource base of law enforcement agencies and on creating the most favorable conditions for life and service of military personnel and their families.
Source: trend.az
UNICEF Assists Turkmenistan in Implementation of National Programs
Turkmenistan’s capital city, Ashgabat, with the support of the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), hosted a meeting of an interagency group of the national program for early childhood development (ECD), UNICEF said on its web-site. The event enabled Turkmenistan to assess the short- and long-term steps at the political, institutional and societal levels, necessary for the development of the child before birth and up to seven years. Strengthening the system of social support and protection of families with young children was named as one of the priority areas.
Source: trend.az
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