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Moscow considers unilateral steps on construction of Trans-Caspian pipelines inadmissible

According to a Russian diplomat, "the environmental side of the issue primarily concerns the Caspian littoral countries - each of the Caspian littoral states without exception"

MOSCOW, May 12. /TASS/. Russia's Foreign Ministry considers unilateral steps on construction of pipelines in the Caspian Sea are inadmissible, Ambassador-at-large Igor Bratchikov, the head of the Russian Delegation to the Multilateral Talks on the Caspian Sea, said in an interview with the Caspian Energy newspaper, released by the ministry on Wednesday.

"Russia's position on this issue is consistent and extremely open. Construction of pipelines across the Caspian Sea, which is a unique in every sense water reservoir, should be considered, first of all, through the prism of the environment and only then from the viewpoint of economy," Bratchikov said.

"Let those, who intend to invest in such projects, think about economy of such projects, their efficiency and financial payback," he went on to say.

"But the environmental side of the issue primarily concerns the Caspian littoral countries - each of the Caspian littoral states without exception," he said. "Here all five Caspian states have the right of vote since they bear common responsibility for the future of the Caspian Sea."

"Unilateral action on construction of Trans-Caspian pipelines is inadmissible," the diplomat said.