Discussion of the Caspian region legal status without Iran participation would be a misstep, Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki stated September 12 in the Foreign Ministry, while expressing a formal protest to the Ambassadors of Azerbaijan, Russia, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan, Anadolu agency reports.

Mottaki stressed that participation of all Caspian Sea region states at the discussion is a mandatory condition. Solution to the problem in the absence of one or several states according to him might entail grand problems.

On September 11-13, 2009 Russian, Kazakh, Turkmen and Azerbaijani Presidents will take part in the informal summit in Aktau, Kazakhstan. Participants will discuss interstate relations’ development issues, intercourse between the Caspian states, as well as the negotiations process on Caspian Sea status.