Russia has called for a prompt settlement of the dispute about ownership of the Caspian Sea.

Russia's Caspian envoy Viktor Kalyuzhny told a conference in Moscow Tuesday that the solution is one of his country's top foreign policy priorities.

Representatives from the five countries bordering the sea are attending the meeting.

The Itar-Tass news agency quotes the Russian official as saying unless the legal status of the Caspian is resolved, peace and stability in the region cannot be guaranteed.

The dispute involves Russia, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan, which want the Caspian split into national sectors corresponding to the length of each country's shoreline.

Iran and Turkmenistan want the Caspian Sea bed split equally five ways, giving both these countries bigger shares of prospective oil fields that Azerbaijan insists belong to it.

Some information for this report provided by AFP and AP.

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