Turkmen FM responds to Azerbaijan’s protest over Kapaz field

Azerbaijan, Baku, June 19 / Trend V. Zhaoronkova / The Turkmen Foreign Ministry has responded to Azerbaijan's protest regarding the Kapaz field, the Turkmen embassy in Azerbaijan told Trend with reference to the Foreign Ministry. "A strong protest was officially expressed to the Azerbaijani side, as well as by sending a diplomatic note to the Foreign Ministry on June 16, 2012," the Turkmen Foreign Ministry said. "According to the protest, Azerbaijani border guards attempted to take illegal actions against a civilian vessel conducting research and development operations in the sector of the Caspian Sea and having no relation to Azerbaijan." On Monday, Turkmen Ambassador to Azerbaijan Toyly Komekov was invited to the Azerbaijani Foreign Minister and received by Deputy Foreign Minister Khalaf Khalafov. It was stressed that in accordance with the agreement between the Azerbaijani and Turkmen presidents in 2008, no activity will be conducted in connection with the exploration and production in the territories of intersecting the bottom of the Azerbaijani and Turkmen sectors until the issues related to delimitation of the Caspian Sea are agreed upon. As a violation of this agreement, Turkmen attempts to start seismic work on the Kapaz field located at the intersection of the Azerbaijani and Turkmen sectors have taken place. In this regard, a strong protest was expressed to Turkmenistan. It was stressed that Turkmenistan's illegal activity is unacceptable. The Azerbaijani side reserves the right to conduct appropriate activities related to the protection of its sovereign rights in the Caspian Sea. Do you have any feedback? Contact our journalist at agency@trend.az