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Iran Press: Commander Says Joint Caspian Force to Be Formed

Posted on: Monday, 30 January 2006, 09:00 CST

Text of report by the Rasht-based Iranian provincial publication Gilan-e Emruz on 8 January

A top military commander of the Army of the Islamic Republic of Iran said: "A common rapid deployment force will be formed in the Caspian Sea in near future and preliminary steps to found this force have been taken."

Mohsen Behzadfar pointed to the treaties signed by Iran and the former Soviet Union in 1921 and 1940 on common and joint exploitation of the sea and said: "the Iranian foreign policy seeks an equal share of the sea and based on this claims the ownership of 20 per cent of the coastline of the Caspian Sea."

Stating that the foreign policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran concerning defence issues is based on defence and the second strike, he said: "we have never had the intention to attack another country and our foreign and defence policy is based on this doctrine." He added: "we strengthen our forces only for defence and prevention."

The commander of the 4th marine region pointed out: "the important thing is the fair use of marine resources of this large sea. Politicians of Iran, Russia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan will arrive at the ultimate conclusion in their meetings, and this agreement will be the basis of the operational doctrine of the Islamic Republic of Iran and for us as a military force. Therefore, undoubtedly, the Islamic system will outline its large-scale policy that will be the same strong defence."

Concerning Iran's relations with newly established Caspian littoral states, he said: "fortunately, the Islamic Republic of Iran has tried to establish a friendly relationship and good neighbourly ties with other states and has very good relations with other countries. This cooperation has grown to the point that a common rapid deployment force named CASFORCE will be founded in the Caspian Sea as such a force was established in the Black Sea." He added: "preliminary steps to found such a force have been taken and details will be published after the realization of related plans and objectives."

The commander of the 4th marine region said: "at present we do our best to maintain the Caspian Sea as the sea of peace and friendship, and this policy that has been accepted by all Caspian littoral states pursues this goal."

Source: BBC Monitoring Middle East

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