From: Justin Burke (JBurke@sorosny.org)
Date: Wed Sep 25 2002 - 10:33:05 EDT
Azeri official tries to allay Iranian fears over Azeri-Russian Caspian deal
Text of report by Azerbaijani TV station ANS on 24 September
[Presenter in studio] Tehran is concerned about the bilateral agreement on
the division of the Caspian seabed signed by the Russian and Azerbaijani
presidents in Moscow. This information has been carried by Iran's IRNA news
agency. However, Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister Xalaf Xalafov believes
that there is no reason for concern. This will, in fact, facilitate the
resolution of the Caspian legal status issue, end quote.
[Correspondent over video of Xalaf Xalafov, captioned] Azerbaijani Deputy
Foreign Minister Xalaf Xalafov has shared his attitude towards Iran's
protest at the signing of the Azerbaijani-Russian agreement on the
delimitation of the Caspian seabed. Indicating that Iran had not been
particularly happy before either, Xalaf Xalafov said that Iran's protests
would do little to change the situation. However, the deputy minister added
that Iran's more active involvement in the issue could speed up the
resolution of the legal status issue. Xalafov said that the Samur field,
located on the Russian-Azerbaijani border in the Caspian, was a very large
prospect and both countries could develop their own portions of the field.
According to him, the development of such fields would have to be carried
out in accordance with existing international practice. Quote - Different
forms of development could be used, such as joint development of the field,
appointment of individual companies from each side or one and the same
international company, end quote. Afaq Telmanqizi, Ali Ahmadov, ANS.
Source: ANS TV, Baku, in Azeri 1000 gmt 24 Sep 02
BBC Mon TCU 240902 bk/eb
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