RUSSIA ENDORSES TURKMEN CHALLENGE TO AZERBAIJANI OWNERSHIP OF OILFIELDS.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Gennady Tarasov stated yesterday that Moscow "can only agree with" Turkmenistan’s recent statements disputing Azerbaijan’s jurisdiction of the Azeri and Chirag offshore oil fields. Their inclusion in Azerbaijan’s multibillion contract with an international consortium represents a "unilateral action violating the interests of other Caspian countries. As Turkmenistan’s declaration correctly observes, such actions are inadmissible," the spokesman stated, reaffirming Moscow’s and Tehran’s doctrine of "common use" of Caspian resources. (Interfax, February 13)

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