THE LEGAL STATUS OF THE CASPIAN SEA

The content of this document is intended to provide the detailed analysis of both economic and legal situation in the Caspian Sea region with the particular attention being paid by the author to the allocation and removal of its natural resources. The Caspian Sea is considered the largest enclosed reservoir of salt water on the planet - it is not only a fragile ecosystem featuring huge fishery resources; the area is very rich in hydrocarbon deposits.

And, it is quite obvious that the economic advantages that are gained from the development of the hydrocarbons serve as a basis for the development of the littoral countries. However, is should be noted that it also results in significant transboundary harm to the local ecosystem. The intention of the author is to contend that the growing contamination of the local environment may eventually lead to the environmentally induced conflicts.

The ongoing conflicts in the area due to the territorial claims of the riparian countries have also been dealt with in the book. The main aim of the volume is to describe the existing legal mechanisms that could potentially b used to settle the disputes thus protecting the Caspian Sea environment...