The 16th meeting of Special working group at the level of deputy ministers of Caspian littoral states for drafting of Convention on Caspian legal status was held in Ashgabat on 28-29 January 2005.

The head of Turkmen delegating Khoshgeldy Babayev, chairman of state organization on Caspian issues at President of Turkmenistan, presided over the meeting.

The delegations from Azerbaijan (head Khalaf Khalafov), Islamic Republic of Iran (head Mehdi Safari), Republic of Kazakhstan (head Rapil Joshybayev), Russian Federation (head Igor Yusufov) and Turkmenistan (head Khoshegldy Babayev) participated in the meeting.

In the course of meeting, conducted in the spirit of constructivism and mutual understanding, the heads of delegations expounded the positions of Caspian littoral states on key issues of legal status and different aspects of cooperation on Caspian.

The parties completed the forth article-by-article discussion of draft convention on Caspian legal status, achieved some results and agreed to continue the work on settlement of issues demanding further decision.

The members of meeting positively estimated the results of Ashgabat meeting and expressed gratitude to Turkmen party for cordial reception and good organization of 16th meeting of special Working Group on drafting of Convention on Caspian legal status on the level of deputy foreign ministers of Caspian littoral states.

The next 17th meeting the parties agreed to conduct in Tehran. The date of meeting will be agreed through diplomatic channels.

29 January 2005, Ashgabat

Translated by nCa