STATUS OF THE CASPIAN SEA - KAZAKHSTAN, TURKMENISTANAND AZERBAIJAN ARE GETTING PREPARING FOR NEGOTIATIONS

ABUSEITOV KAIRAT KHUATOVICH - born in 1955, Kazakh. Graduated from special division of Kazakhstan State University History Department. Worked as a teacher in Semipalatinsk Pedagogical Institute. Graduated from post-graduate courses of Moscow State University after M.V. Lomonosov. Candidate of Historical sciences. Assistant professor. Worked as an assistant, senior teacher, deputy dean of Kazakhstan State University, assistant professor of World Policy and International Affairs chair of Almati Higher Party School, then Almati Political Sciences and Management Institute. In 1992-1993 he was program leader on foreign policy and national security of Strategic research Center at Kazakhstan Management, Economy, Forecast Institute at KR President. He knows English.

Since 1993 he has been in the system of Kazakhstan Republic Foreign Affairs Ministry. During 1993-1996 held responsible diplomatic posts in the Central Apparatus of KR MFA. During 1996-1998 he was Adviser in Embassy of KR to US. In 1998 he was appointed Deputy Director of First Department. In 1998-1999 - Director of First Department, Director of Multiple Cooperation Department at KR MFA.

December 1999 - October 2002 - Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Republic.

On October 2, 2002 he was appointed First Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Caspian Energy: Which countries are strategic partners of Kazakhstan? Relations with which countries are considered economic priority?

Kairat Abuseitov: Country's foreign policy priorities are formed on the bases of its internal development, i.e. foreign policy is a logical sequence of internal policy. The followings are priority tasks of Kazakhstan foreign policy: ensuring sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country, strengthening security and stability belt along the whole Kazakhstan border, attraction of international experience and resourcesa to country's economic development.

Therefore Kazakhstan focuses on reinforcing multilateral regional cooperation within the frames of Eurasian Economic Community, "Central-Asian Cooperation" Organization, CIS, CVMDA, SCO, as well as on good neighborly relations and strategic cooperation with our partners - Russia, Central Asia countries, PRC, USA, Turkey, Japan, European Union, Central and Eastern European, Persian Gulf, South-East Asian countries.

How do you estimate the work of five Caspian states' special group on development of consensus concerning Caspian Sea status? Which countries' positions are closer to Kazakh one?

I would like to note that there is only one working group. Special working group on development of consensus regarding legal status of the Caspian Sea was established in 1996 in accordance with decision of Ashgabad Conference of Caspian states Foreign Affairs Ministers. Its main objective is to prepare penta-partite documents regulating activity of Caspian coastal countries. Under "activity" we mean large issues frame connected with regulation of shipping, fishery, maintenance Caspian ecological system, division of seafloor for use of resources. Due to it besides its main tasks Special working group has to settle a number of accompanying matters.

I work in the special group for a year. During last year's August meeting in Tehran Parties didn't have unique opinion on future work plan, but today we can say that consolidated project of the Convention based on the projects submitted by Caspian states, was considered at second reading. Parties managed to develop mutually acceptable formulating on a number of provisions. I think that it's a reliable beginning and stimulus for future work.

As I already noted, defining Caspian Sea legal status stipulates settlement a wide range of issues, and depending on national interests each country has its own position regarding these issues. For example, Kazakhstan, Russia and Azerbaijan have already settled for themselves issues on resources use in the Northern Caspian Sea. It indicates closeness of our positions in this matter. In November of the current year we plan to sign Framework Convention on protection of environment on Caspian Sea, which is the result of closeness of five countries position on maintenance of Caspian ecology. But even if countries' positions coincide on one issue, they may completely differ on other matters. For example, there is no unique opinion about necessity of the so-called territorial sea, or rather zone with similar regime. Or regarding the matter on Caspian Sea demilitarization.

Which negotiations are conducted with Turkmenistan at present and could you reach mutual agreement on sector line?

Kazakhstan pursues purposeful policy concerning Caspian Sea floor division. Following accomplishment of negations process with Russia and Azerbaijan we initiated division of Caspian floor with Turkmenistan. Kazakhstan's proposal was completely supported by S.A. Niyazov, President of Turkmenistan. Delegations of both countries conducted two rounds of negotiations. However for accomplishment of the work it's necessary to determine junction point of delimitation line of Caspian floor contiguous parts, which impossible without participation of Azerbaijan. Therefore at present stage we develop issue on tripartite meeting. Parties didn't face any serious disagreements on this matter, and I think will not face in future.

Recently Mr. Kalyuzhniy stated the possibility to reach consensus on the quadripartite bases, i.e. without Iran. What is your opinion on this matter?

To tell the truth, I don't know anything about this statement. To my opinion, agreement of four countries can't be called consensus. Caspian Sea washes coasts of five countries; therefore its future shall be settled by five countries. Indeed, achieving consensus by over two countries was always very complicated. Especially if we talk about legal regime of the territory. But all the same, negotiations are conducted regularly. And here we can't say that disagreement course is connected only with Iran's position. Determination of Caspian legal status requires settlement of many issues, and every country has it's own position on these issues, which sometimes doesn't coincide with that of majority.

It's quite another matter, when country's economic development and other vitally important factors demand progress and brook no delay. Following emergence of new states on the Caspian sea, active mineral resources development launched. But matter of Caspian floor division wasn't settled between all states by that time. As you see, delay in settlement of this question could result in irreversible consequences.

At present such situation appears in the sphere of Caspian ecology. That's why Kazakh party initiated realization of First International Ecological Conference "Caspian Ecology 2003" in Kazakhstan within the frames of which we consider wide range of issues on maintenance of Caspian ecological system.

In general, I don't think we have to emphasize one country and to blame it in all unsettled problems. We just have to search compromise and mutually acceptable decisions for peaceful settlement of Caspian issue.

Will Kazakhstan's foreign policy be corrected with countries- agreement participants on formation of sole economic zone with Russia, Kazakhstan, Byelorussia and Ukraine?

Kazakhstan being a member of many integration unions, proposed and proposes search of new ways for more effective integration cooperation.

Perhaps, that's why Kazakhstan's recent initiative on establishing common free market zone was supported by heads of Byelorussia and Ukraine.

In spite of aim commonness of new union and EurAzEs - establishing common free market zone, - approaches to achieving of the aim considerable differ.

And the main difference is that in new organization already on the primary stage we plan to create supranational body.

No doubt, while establishing this structure, experience of integration cooperation in CIS and EurAzEs will be used.

However new union will have its own development way.

As a whole, I think it will positively impact future development of all existing structures.

In which international organizations does Kazakhstan participate?

At present Kazakhstan Republic participate in over sixty international and regional organizations. Among them we can indicate United Nations Organization, and structures included to it, OSCE, Islamic Conference Organization, Organization on Economic Cooperation, Shanghai Organization on Cooperation, and regional unions within CIS.