Russian Federation and Kazakhstan have signed a protocol on division of Caspian bottom

/REUTERS, Moscow, May 13, 02/ - Russia and Kazakhstan have signed on Monday a protocol on division of bottom of northern part of Caspian Sea for the purpose of sovereign rights of bowels usage. The protocol has set geographic coordinates of middle line of the bottom division. The protocol implies that exploitation of hydrocarbons of geological structures Kurmangazy, Central and field Khvalynskoe located at middle line between two countries will be made by two states together according to formula 50/50. Signing the protocol Vladimir Putin and Nursultan Nazarbaev have estimated it as a breakthrough in collaboration and a sample for other Caspian states. TASS comments words of Putin on that such a division could be called fair. Division of Caspian Sea rich of oil and gas and also unique fish resources from the moment of USSR break is an issue of disputes between Caspian states - Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenia, Azerbaijan and Iran. He part of states thinks that it should be considered as a lake, and according to this divide its resources. Russia and Kazakhstan made agreement on July 06,1998 having divided resources according to middle line and about a year ago Nazarbaev said that an agreement on three fields located at middle line also will not postponed. At the ceremony of protocol signing Nazarbaev said that in the end of May - beginning of June there would be signed an agreement on long-term oil transportation through Russia for 5-10 years. The minister of energy of the RF Igor Yusufov said on Monday to journalists that the Ministry of energy has already been preparing corresponding agreement for the term of 15 years. "There will be fixed those volumes of oil that Kazakhstan is obliged to transport through the territory of Russia abroad," said Yusufov. In 2001 Kazakhstan should pump through Russia 17.5 million tons of oil. According to his words, as for now there are several unregulated issues between Kazakhstan and Russia concerning this agreement including tariff formation on Kazakhstan oil tranzit. Uysufov said that Kazakhstan side insists on that a tariff on oil transit at the level of tariffs for Russian producers. At the same time Russian side thinks that it's important to appoint high transit price since Russia is bearing losses from transit due to non-levying of export duties on oil. According to Nazarbaev's words, there is being held a work on creation of joint project of Gazprom and gas companies of Kazakhstan on transportation of Kazakhstan's gas via Russian pipelines. [2002-05-13]