ENERGY ISSUES AS THE TRIGGER OF FORMATION OF AN INTERNATIONAL REGIME OF THE CASPIAN SEA

The research object of the article is a development of the international regime of the Caspian Sea after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 and increase in the number of the Caspian Littoral States, which transformed the former “closed” Soviet-Iranian region to the arena for wrangling between the different foreign policy interests of the most powerful world nations. The research subject is the key role of energy resources in the negotiation process between the States of the Caspian Region. The author pays special attention to the evolution of national approaches of the “Caspian Five” to the problem of mineral resources delimitation as well as its connection to negotiations on the draft comprehensive Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea. The article mentions the key benchmarks of the negotiation process, examines the influence of biand multilateral arrangements among Russia, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan during 1998-2003 on the situation in the region. The role of conflicts among Azerbaijan, Iran and Turkmenistan over transboundary oil and gas fields in the southern part of the sea as a factor of regional instability as well as its negative influence on the relations between the Caspian Littoral States, in general, are analyzed. The main conclusion of the author is that debates, launched by the Caspian Littoral States on the energy issues in the format of the Special Working Group at the level of Deputy Foreign Ministers, have gradually transformed to the multilateral mechanism for interaction of regional actors and become a trigger for debates on the other issues of the Caspian agenda such as economic, ecological, military, security, transport, tourist cooperation, etc. Taking into account importance and a positive role of four Caspian Summits as well as influence of other factors (separate position of Iran, external forces, environmental risks) on the negotiation process, the author underlines the fact that all efforts of the Caspian Littoral States should be focused on elaborating the compromise settlement scheme of mineral resources delimitation, which should be fixed in the future comprehensive Convention.  

1. Abakarov A.T. Kaspiiskii region v global’noi strategii v usloviiakh novogo geopoliticheskogo prostranstva [Caspian Region in the Context of Global Strategy in Geopolitical Space]. Pravo i politika [Law and Politics], 2007, no. 11, pp. 86-93. (In Russian).

2. Gegelashvili N.A. Kaspiiskii region v mirovoi politike [Caspian Region in the World Politics]. Moscow, ISKRAN Publ., 2014. 165 p. (In Russian).

3. Zhiznin S.Z. Energeticheskaia diplomatiia Rossii: ekonomika, politika, praktika [Energy Diplomacy of Russia: Economics, Politics, Practice]. Moscow, East Brook Publ., 2005. 640 p. (In Russian).

4. Zhiznin S.Z., Guliev I.A. Energeticheskaia diplomatiia v Kaspiiskom regione [Energy Diplomacy in the Caspian Region]. Vestnik MGIMO-Universiteta [MGIMO Review of International Relations], 2012, no. 1 (22), pp. 241-247. (In Russian).

5. Zhil’tsov S.S. Politika Rossii v Kaspiiskom regione [Politics of Russia in the Caspian Region]. Moscow, Aspekt Press Publ., 2016. 240 p. (In Russian).

6. Zhil’tsov S.S., Zonn I.S. SShA v pogone za Kaspiem [USA Chasing after the Caspian Region]. Moscow, Mezhdunarodnye otnosheniia Publ., 2009. 200 p. (In Russian).

7. Kol’chugin N.P. Kaspiiskoe more: protsess vyrabotki pravovogo statusa ostaetsia v tupike [Caspian Sea: Drafting the Legal Status Is At a Deadlock]. Middle East Institute Website, 16.05.2012. Available at: http://www.iimes.ru/?p=14732#more-14732 (accessed 16.11.2017). (In Russian).

8. Mamedov R. Mezhdunarodno-pravovoi status Kaspiiskogo moria: vchera, segodnia, zavtra [Legal Status of the Caspian Sea: Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow]. Baku, Azerneshr Publ., 2006. 456 p. (In Russian).

9. Temirbulatov A.M. Pravovoi status Kaspiiskogo moria: pozitsii prikaspiiskikh gosudarstv [Legal Status of the Caspian Sea: Positions of the Caspian Littoral States]. Geopolitika i bezopasnost’ [Geopolitics and Security], 2011, no. 4 (16), pp. 74-80. (In Russian).

10. Chikharev I.A. Problematika politicheskogo prostranstva i vremeni v sovremennoi politologii i mezhdunarodnykh otnosheniiakh [Political Space and Time Issues in the Modern Political Science and International Relations]. Politicheskaia nauka [Political Science], 2009, no. 1, p.7. (In Russian).

11. Akiner S., Gizzatov V., Roberts J. The Caspian. Politics, energy and security. Ed. by Akiner S. RoutledgeCurzon Publ., 2005. 372 p.

12. Janusz-Pawletta B. The Legal Status of the Caspian Sea. Current Challenges and Prospects for Future Development. Springer Publ., 2015. 176 p.

13. Kubicek P. Energy politics and geopolitical competition in the Caspian Basin. Journal of Eurasian Studies, 2013, vol. 4, no. 2, pp. 171-180.

14. Zimnitskaya H., von Geldern J. Is the Caspian Sea a sea; and why does it matter? Journal of Eurasian Studies, 2011, vol. 2, no. 1, pp. 1-14.