The controversy over the Caspian Sea mineral resources: conflicting perceptions, clashing interests

The dispute between Turkey, Russia and Iran on the Caspian Sea mineral resources and the location of oil and gas export pipelines are affected by several factors. These include the attitude of the countries involved, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan, over possible retaliatory actions and US policy on the exclusion of Iran from oil projects. Russia holds geographical, military and political advantages over its competitors.
On 29 August 1995, at the summit meeting of the Turkic states in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Turkey's President Suleyman Demirel explained why Ankara is so interested in having Azerbaijani, Kazakh and [...]