Lavrov holds 1st ever meeting of Russian Interdepartmental Commission on Caspian Cooperation

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Friday took part in the first meeting of the Russian Interdepartmental Commission on Caspian Cooperation.

Opening the meeting via videoconference, Lavrov said the commission was established to increase the efficiency of implementation of the Caspian projects, including with the participation of other states.

The minister also outlined as another goal "unlocking the region's potential in trade and economic, transit, scientific, humanitarian and other spheres, as well as preserving the fragile ecology of the reservoir."

"The most important project is the international transport corridor "North–South". He is under the priority control of the Russian leadership," he emphasized.

Russia is committed to active, creative work in the format of the Caspian "five" -- Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia, Turkmenistan -- in the interests of strengthening the position of this region as a zone of peace, harmony, good-neighborliness and fruitful international cooperation, he said.

"Our interdepartmental commission is called upon to outline concrete steps to implement the tasks set by Russian President Vladimir Putin and the government," he added.