Caspian summit a triumph for Iran

[rodeodance]

Source: asia times



Oct 18, 2007


Caspian summit a triumph for Iran
By Kaveh L Afrasiabi

Few regional summits have drawn closer attention, by both the media and world governments, than this week's summit of leaders of Caspian littoral states in Tehran.

The two day summit, coinciding with twin nuclear crises and escalating US-Iran tensions relating to Iraq and the Middle East, is bound to be regarded as a milestone in regional cooperation, with serious ramifications for a broad array of issues transcending the Caspian Sea region.

Billed as a "great leap toward progress" by Mehdi Safari, Iran's



Deputy Foreign Minister in charge of Iran's Caspian affairs, the summit has been a great success for Iran as well as Russia and the other participants (Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan), and Tehran is likely to capitalize on it as a stepping stone for full membership of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), considered a security counterweight to NATO and US "hegemony".

........

The upshot of the Caspian summit is, in fact, a prominent message about the need to democratize the international order by erecting effective barriers to the American "leviathan", as shown by specific agreements reached at the summit, including prohibiting other countries from using the littoral states for attacks on one another "under any circumstances'', and disallowing any ship not flying the national flag of a littoral state on Caspian waters.

Read more: http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/IJ18Ak01.html

[cliss]

1. I'm sure Washington

is going through a meltdown right this moment.

Things are hitting Bush broadside, from all directions now. It's happening at a faster & faster pace, as well. Bush has got Turkey to deal with, our deteriorating relations with many, many countries right now.

They can't deal with even small crises, this should push them over the edge.

[rodeodance]

3. maybe that partly explains his combative responses at his news conf. today

[kitty1]

2. You're right, first it's Turkey, now the Caspian States are putting..

up road blocks to Bush and his potential launch sites. Also throw in the Blackwater scandal into the mix.
There must be some heated meetings going on right now in the state dept.
I guess the only positive sign is that Rice has Egypt on board with them on the Israeli Palestinian peace talks next month. She is trying to bolster support for Israel.
Putin is probably a shrewed chess player and is carefully placing some strategic moves to unnerve Shrub. He probably loves to watch Bush unravel over this stuff.
China is pissed now too, over the Dalai Lama thing,so they will probably welcome Iran with open arms into the SCO.

[rodeodance]

4. well we know Gates went shopping to Azerbaijan last month (secret as to what he was shopping for)

[rodeodance]

5. Putin: US Hegemony Unfeasible

http://www.plenglish.com/article.asp?ID={720F7019-2C8D-4AEA-8313-D8635F305B2B})&language=EN

Putin: US Hegemony Unfeasible

Moscow, Oct 17 (Prensa Latina) Russian President Vladimir Putin affirmed Wednesday in Teheran the US aspiration to create a unipolar world is impossible.
# Putin: Russia will Finish Iran Nuclear Plant

The examples of Afghanistan and Iraq confirm that no power, not matter how big, can solve world problems by itself, because its financial, economic, material, or political resources would be insufficient, he stressed.

The Russian leader explained Moscow suggests increasing the leading role of an international organization like the UN, and giving more importance to international law.

In addition, he remarked, national sovereignty principles must be strictly observed, and consensual commitments must be adopted when making important decisions.