Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s greetings to organisers and participants of the 3rd Caspian Media Forum

I would like to extend my cordial greetings to the organisers and participants of the 3rd Caspian Media Forum.

Your meetings are becoming a high-demand venue for open and earnest discussions by the media of the five Caspian states on urgent issues that are vital for our shared region. The authorities of the Astrakhan Region, which is celebrating its 300th anniversary this year, are playing a major role in their organisation.
At the Fourth Caspian Summit in Astrakhan three years ago, our presidents adopted a statement on the principles of the Caspian Sea’s legal status and set the goal of using it as a basis for signing a legally binding convention at the following summit. The proposed international treaty that will lay a solid foundation for the coastal states’ cooperation in various areas is designed to enhance regional security and stability and promote mutually beneficial cooperation among our states. This goal is a top priority for us.
Obviously, dialogue in the field of information is one of the most important components in the efforts to enhance the atmosphere of neighbourly relations, trust and mutual understanding in the Caspian Sea region. I hope the forthcoming discussions will take place in a constructive, businesslike atmosphere and will facilitate the elaboration of new useful initiatives.
I wish you productive work and all the best.

Sergey LAVROV
Moscow, September 28, 2017