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THE LEGAL STATUS OF THE CASPIAN SEA: AN IRANIAN PERSPECTIVE

Year 2020, Volume: 16 Issue: 2, 443 - 459, 31.12.2020

Abstract

The
Caspian Sea is considered to be one of the most significant strategic regions
in the world in terms of including vast mineral resources. For this reason, the
problem of sharing of natural resources between the coastal states (Iran,
Russia, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan) has continued for a long time.
Apart from the five coastal states, especially Europe, USA, India and China,
whose energy needs continue to rise day by day, have started to move towards
the Caspian Basin, thus resulting in a constant struggle for hegemony in the
region.



Consisting of 24 articles, the Convention on the Legal
Status of the Caspian Sea was settled on 12 August 2018 between Caspian coastal
countries in Aktau after 22 years of discussions involving five summits and 50
special working group meetings. The Convention has granted the Caspian Sea a
new “special legal status” raising important questions about the decisions
taken in the deal and it is regarded to be inadequate in resolving complex
issues in terms of maritime borders and the fair delimitation of its resources.
The division of the mineral-rich seabed will also be determined by negotiations
in the future.
In this regard, this paper aims to outline the views and the efforts of
Iran to develop a legal regime for the sea and to evaluate the decisions of the
Aktau summit with regard to its effects on Iran.

References

  • Abdolhay, H. (2004). Sturgeon Stocking Programme in the Caspian Sea with Emphasis on Iran. In D. M. Bartley, K. M. Leber (Eds), Marine Renching (pp. 133-170).Abedin, M. (2018). Iranians are at sea over the new Caspian convention. Retrived March 5, 2019 from https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20180822-iranians-are-at-sea-over-the-new-caspian-convention/.Afshar, H. (2004). The Caspian Dispute: Is A Doctrinal Analysis Too Late or Can We Turn Back The Hands Of Time?. New York Law School Law Review, 48, 755-775.Azizi, H. (2018). Caspian Sea convention moves Iran closer to northern neighbors. Retrived March 5, 2019 from https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/ 2018/08/caspian-sea-convention-iran-russia-us-sanctions-pipeline.html#ixzz5hT1LestG.Bantekas, I. (2011). Bilateral Delimitation of the Caspian Sea and the Exclusion of Third Parties. The International Journal of Marine and Coastal Law, 26, 47-58.Bonine, Michael E. (2003). Iran: The Pivotal State of Southwest Asia. Eurasian Geography and Economics, 44 (1), 1-39.Brzozowski, A. (2018). Caspian Five settle row over sea’s legal status, demarcation pending. Retrived March 3, 2019 from https://www.euractiv.com/section/central-asia/news/caspian-five-settle-row-over-seas-legal-status-demarcation-pending/.Calamur, K. (2018). Trump Goes From Threatening Iran to Threatening the World. Retrived February 25, 2019 from https://www.theatlantic.com/international/ archive/2018/08/trump-iran-tweet/566948/, Cherniavskii, S. (2002). Problems of the Caspian. Russian Politics and Law, 40 (2), 85-94.Cohen, A. (2002). Iran's Claim over Caspian Sea Resources Threaten Energy Security. The Heritage Foundation, Washington, Retrived October 8, 2018 from http://www.heritage.org/middle-east/report/irans-claim-over-caspian-sea-resources-threaten-energy-security.Colibrilaw Firm, Legal Status of the Caspian Sea. Retrived October 2, 2018 from http://www.colibrilaw.com/sites/ default/files/colibrilaw_caspian_1.pdf.Diba, Bahman A. (2011). National Interests of Iran in the Caspian Sea. Retrived November 11, 2018 from http://iranian.com/main/blog/diba/national-interests-iran-caspian-sea.html.Dorraj, M and Entessar, N. (2013). Iran’s Northern Exposure: Foreign Policy Challenges in Eurasia. Centre for International and Regional Studies. Occasional Paper, (13), 1-27.Dunlap, B. N. (2004). Divide and Conquer? The Russian Plan for Ownership of the Caspian Sea. Boston College International and Comparative Law Review, 27 (12), 115-130.Formentini, F. and Milani, T. (2012). The Legal Status of the Caspian Sea-History of the Treaties between the Riparian States. European Center for Energy Security (ECESA). Working Paper, 3 (4), 1-12.Ghafouri, M. (2008). The Caspian Sea: Rivalry and Cooperation. Middle East Policy, 15 (2), 81-96.Gökay, B. (1998). Caspian Uncertainties: Regional Rivalries and Pipelines. Perceptions, 3 (1).Gökçe, M. (2008). Sovyet Sonrası Dönemde Hazar Çevresinde Yaşanan Rekabet. Uluslararası Sosyal Araştırmalar Dergisi. 1(3), 177-209.Gökçe, M. (2011). The Caspian Sea Policy of Iran from Pre-Cold War to the Present. The Pursuit of History, 6, 153-176.Griffith, B. (1998). Back Yard Politics: Russian Foreign Policy toward the Caspian Basin. Demokratizatsiya: The Journal of Post-Soviet Democratization, 6 (2), 426-44.Haghayeghi, M. (2003). The Coming of Conflict to the Caspian Sea. Problems of Post Communism, 50 (3), 32-41.İşcan, İ.H. (2010). Uluslararası Enerji Güvenliği Açısından Hazar Bölgesi Enerji Ekonomisi ve Hazar Denizi’ni Paylaşım Sorunu. Sosyo Ekonomi Dergisi Özel Sayı, 63-92.Janusz, B. (2005), The Caspian Sea Legal Status and Regime Problems. Briefing Paper, Shiftung Wissenschaft und Politik, Berlin, retrived October 20, 2018 from https://www.chathamhouse.org/sites/files/chathamhouse/public/research/russia%20and%20euras ia/bp0805caspian.pdf.Karimov, R. (2014). Iran’s Policy in Caspian Sea Basin and Beyond: The Great Game 2.0. In C. Frappi, A. Garibov (Eds), The Caspian Sea Chessboard (129-141).Kephanov, Yolbars A. (December 1997-February 1998). The New Legal Status of the Caspian Sea Is the Basis of Regional Co-Operation and Stability. Perceptions, 2 (4).Lee, Y. (2005). Toward A New International Regime for the Caspian Sea. Problems of Post-Communism, 52 (3), 37-48.Mamedov, Rustam F. (2000). International Legal Status of the Caspian Sea in Its Historical Development. The Turkish Yearbook Of International Relations, 30, 107-137.Mehdiyoun, K. (2000). Ownershıp of Oil and Gas Resources in the Caspıan Sea. The American Journal of International Law, 94, 179-189.Mohsenin, Mehrdad M. (2001). The Evolving Security Role of Iran in the Caspian Region. In G. Chufrin (Eds). The Security of the Caspian Sea Region (Oxford, 166-177.Müller, D. and Betaneli, K., (2018). The new Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea: New Opportunities and New Challenges. Retrived March 5, 2019 from http://knowledge.freshfields.com/en/Global/r/3848/the_new_convention_on_the_legal_status _of_the_caspian_sea.Nassibli, N. (2003). Iran's Caspian Policy: Time To Make A Decison?”, The Central Asia and Caucasus Analyst, Retrived March 5, 2019 from http://www.cacianalyst.org/publications/analytical-article /item/7762-analytical-articles-caci-analyst-2003-2-10-art-7762.html?tmpl=compone nt&print=1.News Central Asia, (2014). Caspian Summit at Astrakhan – The Outcome. Retrived March 5, 2019 from http://www.newscentralasia.net/2014/09/30/caspian-summit-at-astrakhan-the-outcome/.Oğan, S. (2001). Hazar’da Tehlikeli Oyunlar: Statü Sorunu, Paylaşılamayan Kaynaklar ve Silahlanma Yarışı. Avrasya Dosyası, 7 (2), 143-183.Ovozi, Q. (2018), Caspian Summit Fails to Resolve Issues between Iran and Nearest Neighbors Retrieved March 3, 2019 from https://www.rferl.org/a/qishloq-ovozi-caspian-summit-fails-to-resolve-issues-iran-turkmenistan-azerbaijan/29436013.html.Pazarcı, H. (2011), Uluslararası Hukuk. 10. Baskı. Ankara: Turhan Kitap Evi.Raheleh, B. (2010). Iran’s Foreign Policy in the Caspian Sea Basin. Central Asia and the Caucasus, 11 (3), 86-93.Sadri, H. A. (2012). Iran and the Caucasus States in the 21st Century: A Study of Foreign Policy Goals and Means. Journal of Balkan and Near Eastern Studies, 14 (3), 383-396.Shaffer, B. (2003), Iran’s Role in the South Caucasus and Caspian Region: Diverging Views of the U.S. And Europe. In Eugene Whitlock (Eds). Iran and Its Neighbors: Diverging Views on A Strategic Region (Berlin).Shafiyev, F. R. (2001). The Legal Regime of the Caspian Sea: Views of the Littoral States. Retrived March 5, 2019, from http://www.jamestown.org/archives/prism/ p2001/?tx_publicationsttn ews_pi2% 5bissue%5d=6.Szalkai, K. (2013). A Sea Or A Lake- What Difference Does It Make? Questions of the Delimitation of the Caspian Sea. Security Policy Review, 6 (2), 31-48.Taheri, A. (2007). The Caspian. American Foreign Policy Interests, 29, 395-399.Therme, C., (2018). Iran seeks Russian support through Caspian Sea concessions. Retrived March 5, 2019, from https://www.iiss.org/blogs/analysis/2018/08/iran-russian-support-caspian.U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) (2013). Caspian Sea Region. Regional Analysis Brief, Retrived February 17, 2019, from http://www.eia.gov/countries /analysisbriefs/caspiansea/ caspiansea.pdf.United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), Retrived February 17, 2019, from http://www.un.org/depts/los/convention_agreements/texts/unclos/unclos_ e.pdf, (Accessed, 17.2. 2019) Vinogradov, S. and Wouters, P. (1995). The Caspian Sea: Current Legal Problems. Heidelberg Journal of International Law (HJIL), 55 (2), 604-623.Winstone, R. and Young, R. (2005). The Caspian Basin, Energy Reserves and Potential Conflicts. House of Commons Library. Research Paper, 5 (24), 1-42.Yegin, A. (2014). The US-Iran Rapprochement Real or Dream? (Translated by Handan Öz), Analysis, (8).Zadeh, P. M. and Hafeznia, M. R. (2003). Perspectives on the Caspian Sea Dilemma: An Iranian Construct. Eurasian Geography and Economics, 44 (8), 607-616. Zimnitskaya, H. and Von Geldern, J. (2011). Is The Caspian Sea A Sea; and Why Does It Matter?. Journal Of Eurasian Studies, 2, 1-14“Caspian Littoral States’ Foreign Ministers Meet In Astana”, (2016). Retrived February 15, 2019 from http://vestnikkavkaza.net/news/caspian-littoral-states-foreign-ministers-meet-in-astana .html. “Next Caspian States Summit to Be Held in Astana in 2017”, (2016). Retrived February 15, 2019 from https://sputniknews.com/asia/201607131042900262-caspian-sea-status-kazakhstan/.
Year 2020, Volume: 16 Issue: 2, 443 - 459, 31.12.2020

Abstract

References

  • Abdolhay, H. (2004). Sturgeon Stocking Programme in the Caspian Sea with Emphasis on Iran. In D. M. Bartley, K. M. Leber (Eds), Marine Renching (pp. 133-170).Abedin, M. (2018). Iranians are at sea over the new Caspian convention. Retrived March 5, 2019 from https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20180822-iranians-are-at-sea-over-the-new-caspian-convention/.Afshar, H. (2004). The Caspian Dispute: Is A Doctrinal Analysis Too Late or Can We Turn Back The Hands Of Time?. New York Law School Law Review, 48, 755-775.Azizi, H. (2018). Caspian Sea convention moves Iran closer to northern neighbors. Retrived March 5, 2019 from https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/ 2018/08/caspian-sea-convention-iran-russia-us-sanctions-pipeline.html#ixzz5hT1LestG.Bantekas, I. (2011). Bilateral Delimitation of the Caspian Sea and the Exclusion of Third Parties. The International Journal of Marine and Coastal Law, 26, 47-58.Bonine, Michael E. (2003). Iran: The Pivotal State of Southwest Asia. Eurasian Geography and Economics, 44 (1), 1-39.Brzozowski, A. (2018). Caspian Five settle row over sea’s legal status, demarcation pending. Retrived March 3, 2019 from https://www.euractiv.com/section/central-asia/news/caspian-five-settle-row-over-seas-legal-status-demarcation-pending/.Calamur, K. (2018). Trump Goes From Threatening Iran to Threatening the World. Retrived February 25, 2019 from https://www.theatlantic.com/international/ archive/2018/08/trump-iran-tweet/566948/, Cherniavskii, S. (2002). Problems of the Caspian. Russian Politics and Law, 40 (2), 85-94.Cohen, A. (2002). Iran's Claim over Caspian Sea Resources Threaten Energy Security. The Heritage Foundation, Washington, Retrived October 8, 2018 from http://www.heritage.org/middle-east/report/irans-claim-over-caspian-sea-resources-threaten-energy-security.Colibrilaw Firm, Legal Status of the Caspian Sea. Retrived October 2, 2018 from http://www.colibrilaw.com/sites/ default/files/colibrilaw_caspian_1.pdf.Diba, Bahman A. (2011). National Interests of Iran in the Caspian Sea. Retrived November 11, 2018 from http://iranian.com/main/blog/diba/national-interests-iran-caspian-sea.html.Dorraj, M and Entessar, N. (2013). Iran’s Northern Exposure: Foreign Policy Challenges in Eurasia. Centre for International and Regional Studies. Occasional Paper, (13), 1-27.Dunlap, B. N. (2004). Divide and Conquer? The Russian Plan for Ownership of the Caspian Sea. Boston College International and Comparative Law Review, 27 (12), 115-130.Formentini, F. and Milani, T. (2012). The Legal Status of the Caspian Sea-History of the Treaties between the Riparian States. European Center for Energy Security (ECESA). Working Paper, 3 (4), 1-12.Ghafouri, M. (2008). The Caspian Sea: Rivalry and Cooperation. Middle East Policy, 15 (2), 81-96.Gökay, B. (1998). Caspian Uncertainties: Regional Rivalries and Pipelines. Perceptions, 3 (1).Gökçe, M. (2008). Sovyet Sonrası Dönemde Hazar Çevresinde Yaşanan Rekabet. Uluslararası Sosyal Araştırmalar Dergisi. 1(3), 177-209.Gökçe, M. (2011). The Caspian Sea Policy of Iran from Pre-Cold War to the Present. The Pursuit of History, 6, 153-176.Griffith, B. (1998). Back Yard Politics: Russian Foreign Policy toward the Caspian Basin. Demokratizatsiya: The Journal of Post-Soviet Democratization, 6 (2), 426-44.Haghayeghi, M. (2003). The Coming of Conflict to the Caspian Sea. Problems of Post Communism, 50 (3), 32-41.İşcan, İ.H. (2010). Uluslararası Enerji Güvenliği Açısından Hazar Bölgesi Enerji Ekonomisi ve Hazar Denizi’ni Paylaşım Sorunu. Sosyo Ekonomi Dergisi Özel Sayı, 63-92.Janusz, B. (2005), The Caspian Sea Legal Status and Regime Problems. Briefing Paper, Shiftung Wissenschaft und Politik, Berlin, retrived October 20, 2018 from https://www.chathamhouse.org/sites/files/chathamhouse/public/research/russia%20and%20euras ia/bp0805caspian.pdf.Karimov, R. (2014). Iran’s Policy in Caspian Sea Basin and Beyond: The Great Game 2.0. In C. Frappi, A. Garibov (Eds), The Caspian Sea Chessboard (129-141).Kephanov, Yolbars A. (December 1997-February 1998). The New Legal Status of the Caspian Sea Is the Basis of Regional Co-Operation and Stability. Perceptions, 2 (4).Lee, Y. (2005). Toward A New International Regime for the Caspian Sea. Problems of Post-Communism, 52 (3), 37-48.Mamedov, Rustam F. (2000). International Legal Status of the Caspian Sea in Its Historical Development. The Turkish Yearbook Of International Relations, 30, 107-137.Mehdiyoun, K. (2000). Ownershıp of Oil and Gas Resources in the Caspıan Sea. The American Journal of International Law, 94, 179-189.Mohsenin, Mehrdad M. (2001). The Evolving Security Role of Iran in the Caspian Region. In G. Chufrin (Eds). The Security of the Caspian Sea Region (Oxford, 166-177.Müller, D. and Betaneli, K., (2018). The new Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea: New Opportunities and New Challenges. Retrived March 5, 2019 from http://knowledge.freshfields.com/en/Global/r/3848/the_new_convention_on_the_legal_status _of_the_caspian_sea.Nassibli, N. (2003). Iran's Caspian Policy: Time To Make A Decison?”, The Central Asia and Caucasus Analyst, Retrived March 5, 2019 from http://www.cacianalyst.org/publications/analytical-article /item/7762-analytical-articles-caci-analyst-2003-2-10-art-7762.html?tmpl=compone nt&print=1.News Central Asia, (2014). Caspian Summit at Astrakhan – The Outcome. Retrived March 5, 2019 from http://www.newscentralasia.net/2014/09/30/caspian-summit-at-astrakhan-the-outcome/.Oğan, S. (2001). Hazar’da Tehlikeli Oyunlar: Statü Sorunu, Paylaşılamayan Kaynaklar ve Silahlanma Yarışı. Avrasya Dosyası, 7 (2), 143-183.Ovozi, Q. (2018), Caspian Summit Fails to Resolve Issues between Iran and Nearest Neighbors Retrieved March 3, 2019 from https://www.rferl.org/a/qishloq-ovozi-caspian-summit-fails-to-resolve-issues-iran-turkmenistan-azerbaijan/29436013.html.Pazarcı, H. (2011), Uluslararası Hukuk. 10. Baskı. Ankara: Turhan Kitap Evi.Raheleh, B. (2010). Iran’s Foreign Policy in the Caspian Sea Basin. Central Asia and the Caucasus, 11 (3), 86-93.Sadri, H. A. (2012). Iran and the Caucasus States in the 21st Century: A Study of Foreign Policy Goals and Means. Journal of Balkan and Near Eastern Studies, 14 (3), 383-396.Shaffer, B. (2003), Iran’s Role in the South Caucasus and Caspian Region: Diverging Views of the U.S. And Europe. In Eugene Whitlock (Eds). Iran and Its Neighbors: Diverging Views on A Strategic Region (Berlin).Shafiyev, F. R. (2001). The Legal Regime of the Caspian Sea: Views of the Littoral States. Retrived March 5, 2019, from http://www.jamestown.org/archives/prism/ p2001/?tx_publicationsttn ews_pi2% 5bissue%5d=6.Szalkai, K. (2013). A Sea Or A Lake- What Difference Does It Make? Questions of the Delimitation of the Caspian Sea. Security Policy Review, 6 (2), 31-48.Taheri, A. (2007). The Caspian. American Foreign Policy Interests, 29, 395-399.Therme, C., (2018). Iran seeks Russian support through Caspian Sea concessions. Retrived March 5, 2019, from https://www.iiss.org/blogs/analysis/2018/08/iran-russian-support-caspian.U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) (2013). Caspian Sea Region. Regional Analysis Brief, Retrived February 17, 2019, from http://www.eia.gov/countries /analysisbriefs/caspiansea/ caspiansea.pdf.United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), Retrived February 17, 2019, from http://www.un.org/depts/los/convention_agreements/texts/unclos/unclos_ e.pdf, (Accessed, 17.2. 2019) Vinogradov, S. and Wouters, P. (1995). The Caspian Sea: Current Legal Problems. Heidelberg Journal of International Law (HJIL), 55 (2), 604-623.Winstone, R. and Young, R. (2005). The Caspian Basin, Energy Reserves and Potential Conflicts. House of Commons Library. Research Paper, 5 (24), 1-42.Yegin, A. (2014). The US-Iran Rapprochement Real or Dream? (Translated by Handan Öz), Analysis, (8).Zadeh, P. M. and Hafeznia, M. R. (2003). Perspectives on the Caspian Sea Dilemma: An Iranian Construct. Eurasian Geography and Economics, 44 (8), 607-616. Zimnitskaya, H. and Von Geldern, J. (2011). Is The Caspian Sea A Sea; and Why Does It Matter?. Journal Of Eurasian Studies, 2, 1-14“Caspian Littoral States’ Foreign Ministers Meet In Astana”, (2016). Retrived February 15, 2019 from http://vestnikkavkaza.net/news/caspian-littoral-states-foreign-ministers-meet-in-astana .html. “Next Caspian States Summit to Be Held in Astana in 2017”, (2016). Retrived February 15, 2019 from https://sputniknews.com/asia/201607131042900262-caspian-sea-status-kazakhstan/.
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Details

Primary Language English
Subjects International Relations
Journal Section Articles
Authors

Hülya Kınık 0000-0003-3816-269X

Süleyman Erkan 0000-0001-9253-1578

Publication Date December 31, 2020
Acceptance Date July 1, 2020
Published in Issue Year 2020 Volume: 16 Issue: 2

Cite

APA Kınık, H., & Erkan, S. (2020). THE LEGAL STATUS OF THE CASPIAN SEA: AN IRANIAN PERSPECTIVE. Ekonomik Ve Sosyal Araştırmalar Dergisi, 16(2), 443-459.

İletişim Adresi: Bolu Abant İzzet Baysal Üniversitesi İktisadi ve İdari Bilimler Fakültesi Ekonomik ve Sosyal Araştırmalar Dergisi 14030 Gölköy-BOLU

Tel: 0 374 254 10 00 / 14 86 Faks: 0 374 253 45 21 E-posta: iibfdergi@ibu.edu.tr

ISSN (Basılı) : 1306-2174 ISSN (Elektronik) : 1306-3553