Axar.az presents an interview with Russian political analyst and historian Oleg Kuznetsov:

– What does the Caspian Convention promise to participate countries?

– I want to answer this question with three words: mutual respect and trust. Given the vital interests of all Caspian littoral states, these five countries are equally responsible for addressing economic issues.

Now, no one will interfere with the freedom of economic activity (for example, seabed pipes), but on condition that it does not cause environmental, political or humanitarian damage to neighboring countries. The Caspian turns into a collective economic development zone. With the help of this agreement, the Caspian region will help to improve the well-being of the whole region, taking into consideration the plans and aspirations of each partner country and will become more attractive in terms of investment. The Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea excludes almost unhealthy competition and conflict and encourages co-operation.

– How will this convention reflect on the mutual relations of the five member states?

– As a professional lawyer, I can say that the international legal instruments, including the Caspian Convention, are extremely important for the legal participant countries. The point is that these acts are now becoming part of the legal system of those countries and after having been ratified, they have a higher legal effect than national legislation. In such cases, those States are obliged to comply with their respective languages, terminology and specific provisions in accordance with the provisions of the international treaty. Not only the legislature of the respective states but also the political systems are even closer. Thus, the diplomats are followed by lawyer and state officials speaking in the "same language" with colleagues. This, in turn, prevents refers to lie, referring to "translation errors." But just as I mentioned earlier, if someone wants to deceive someone in new circumstances, he will deceive four countries, not one country. In the modern world, no one will take that step.

– For more than twenty years, the Caspian littoral states have no common ground. Will the signing of the Convention these days be related to US sanctions?

– I do not think so. I became acquainted with the coordination process of the positions of the Caspian littoral states in the process of drafting the text of this international legal action. The parties have gone a long way for everyone to learn how to speak in a common legal language, to create a basic terminology database, and to develop mechanisms for practical legal regulation of disputed issues. Over the last twenty years, the presidents and governments, the foreign policy course, and the attitude towards the neighbors of the Caspian have changed several times. During this period, the relations between Russia and the US and Iran have been violated by the warming and cold periods, the Turkmenistan-Iran and Turkmenistan-China cooperation. This has also had an impact on the intensification of the negotiation process. The process can be affected by many factors when a document such as the Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea is prepared.

And I speak not only objective but also subjective factors. It takes time to remove all of these. For example, the issue of determining the physical essence of the Caspian Sea, such as the sea or the lake, has been discussed for a long time.

The sanctions of the United States in principle could not have influenced the development of the position of the Caspian littoral states on this issue.

I do not exclude that I can serve as an incentive for the intensification of the negotiation process and its successful completion, but understanding that I have a major reason to sign the Convention is a clear search in my understanding.

I do not rule out that sanctions can serve as an incentive for the intensification of the negotiation process and its successful completion, but I disagree with the view that the main reason for the signing of the Convention is.