Putin calls Caspian region "oasis of peace and true good-neighborliness"
ASTRAKHAN. Sept 29 (Interfax) - Russian President Vladimir Putin said the leaders of the five Caspian states are interested in reaching mutually acceptable agreements to establish even closer cooperation in the Caspian region.
Opening a meeting between the five presidents of the Caspian countries in Astrakhan, Putin called the Caspian region "an oasis of peace and true good-neighborliness."
"This stability is based on careful and balanced attitude of the between the Caspian countries, their people and leaders to issues relating to the Caspian Sea, including security, economic, or environmental protection issues," Putin said.
"The main thing is that we all have a firm intention and interest in reaching mutually acceptable agreements that will promote even closer cooperation between the five Caspian countries," Putin said.
Putin also spoke for "improvement of the mechanisms of the Caspian five." "I mean not only top-level meetings, but also the activities by ministries, agencies, expert groups, business communities, and young people's organizations," he said.
Putin said the current atmosphere of confidence between the Caspian countries "helps us find compromises on the most complex issues."
