Iran, Kazakhstan FMs review regional issues in press conf.

Speaking at the press conference earlier today, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif noted the various areas of cooperation between Iran and Kazakhstan, expressing hope for expansion of ties between the two countries with the visit of Kazakh President to Tehran.

According to Zarif, various regional and international issues on extremism, Yemen crisis, and Iraq and Syria developments, as well as Iran-Kazakhstan mutual points of interest have been discussed during the course of his two-day visit to Astana.

Zarif also extended his appreciation over FM Erlan Idrissov’s positive outlook in regard to the two countries’ relations, as well as Iran’s nuclear issue.

He maintained that Iran is following up on the issue of determining the legal regime of the Caspian Sea, noting that related expert sessions will be held in Tehran.

Caspian Sea littoral states consist of Iran, Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan. They have been debating their share in the Caspian Sea legal regime since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.

The Caspian Sea legal regime is based on two agreements signed between Iran and the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in 1921 and 1940. Although under the international law, no state can defy any agreement, which came into being before its establishment, the three new littoral states, established after the collapse of the Soviet Union, do not recognize the prior treaties, triggering a debate on the future status of the sea.

Kazakh FM, for his part, maintained that the volume of trade between the two countries is growing, and a number of profitable agreements have been reached that will hopefully raise the level of trade exchange up to $1 billion.

As a country that has hosted two rounds of Iran and 5+1 nuclear negotiations, Idrissov asserted that Kazakhstan wishes sincerely that the talks would lead to an agreement.

Zarif arrived in Kazakh capital on Sunday at the invitation of the Kazakh foreign minister. Earlier today, he delivered a speech at Astana University of the Humanities and Law and received an honorary doctorate degree. 

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MNA
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