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In the early-mid 1990s Russia's basic position on delimitation issue in the Caspian Sea was to establish ‘the condominium regime’. Given Russia's national interests (geoeconomic and strategic),the reasons why Russia sticked to it are as follows: First, by virtue of the condominium regime,Russia could have rights in part to the exploitation of offshore oil and natural gas fields near Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan, while blocking the intervention of outside countries in the development of Caspian resources. Second, Russia could maintain and expand the existing energy export routes passing through Russian territory, while stopping the construction of oil and gas pipeline across the Caspian Sea. Third, the condominium regime allowed Russia to avoid dispute over Caspian claims,which is a major factor for strategic instability in the region, and effectively prevent the disposition of U.S. troops in the region as well. In the late 1990s, however, Russia withdrew its previous proposal and agreed on the principles of ‘bottom division and joint use of water’ with Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan. Based on the Caspian geopolitical environment underwent a sea change in the 1990s, Russia has changed its position to realize its own national interests. Russia's position change was due to the following considerations: First of all, the exclusive ‘joint use of water’ by the Caspian coastal countries prevented the threat of outside military intervention in the Caspian region and opened up the possibility of Russia involving in the construction of oil and gas pipelines across the Caspian Sea. Second, by accepting the principle of ‘bottom division’, Russia gave up its aspirations toward all of the Caspian resources, but instead justified its own energy companies' involvement in developing the resources of other coastal countries. Finally,Russia could take the initiative in resolving boundary delimitation problems through the cooperation with Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan that were active in the division of Caspian resources.
