Governed by the principles of friendly neighborhood, respect to mutual sovereign rights, recognition of territorial integrity, the Republic of Azerbaijan is considered the party making the most constructive suggestion in the development of the convention on the legal status of Caspian. Caspian Sea should reportedly be divided into the respective sectors the sovereign rights and jurisdiction of the coastal states concern, according to the conceptual position of Azerbaijan. Division of the Sea into sectors among the coastal states should be accomplished on the basis of the middle line principles, the experience formed in this sea, the accepted principles of international law and application of sovereign rights of the coastal states in the Sea. According to the position of the Republic of Azerbaijan:

a) Caspian is not an open sea, since it does not have a direct access to the ocean;

b) Caspian is not a closed sea, since it has a natural access to the ocean;

c) Caspian is not an internal sea, an internal reservoir and an internal lake, as it is not located within one state;

d) Caspian is a frontier lake located among 5 states.     

According to the conceptual attitude of the Republic of Azerbaijan, as an international border lake Caspian Sea should be divided into respective sectors the complete sovereignty of the coastal states should be related to. 

According to the suggestion of the Republic of Azerbaijan, sectors of Caspian Sea are created as a result of setting the external boundary of respective sectors of the middle line and considered the state frontier of the Caspian states. Any action of any Caspian state in the sector of other coastal state can be carried out only upon the consent of the latter.

The Republic of Azerbaijan suggests the division of Caspian, as a frontier lake, into sectors among the coastal states, and those sectors should be a part of sovereign territories of the coastal states. 

Having restored its independence, the Republic of Azerbaijan declared its position, based on international law, despite all pressures and non-constructive suggestions of the Russian Federation, which always tries to keep it dependent, and has always held this position. Taking the principles of international law into consideration in the energy projects performed in its sector of Caspian, the Republic of Azerbaijan has been governed by the common national interests of the region states as well and controls today the observance of these principles and interests.

Laman Khalilova
Azerbaijan Realities