The seventh Conference of the Parties to the Framework Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Caspian Sea will be held Sept. 23 in Tehran. Senior officials from the five Caspian littoral states are expected to attend, Tasnim News reported, citing Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Kazem Gharibabadi, who spoke at an Aug. 11 event marking National Caspian Sea Day.
According to Gharibabadi, the upcoming meeting will provide Caspian littoral states with an opportunity to discuss issues of mutual interest and strengthen bilateral and multilateral ties. He said environmental protection of the Caspian Sea will be a main focus of the agenda.
“Protecting the Caspian Sea’s environment is not simply an environmental issue. If we want the Caspian Sea to remain usable in the future and retain its economic, social and strategic potential, protecting its ecosystem is a fundamental necessity,” Gharibabadi said.
In Turkmenistan, various events are held to mark International Caspian Sea Day on Aug. 12, focusing on protecting the Caspian Sea and developing regional cooperation. As part of these events, a scientific and practical conference titled “Protection of the Caspian Sea Ecosystem: Regional Cooperation and Sustainable Development” began Aug. 12 at the Avaza National Tourist Zone.
The holding of conferences and other events dedicated to the Caspian Sea highlights the importance Caspian littoral states attach to protecting the marine environment and ecosystem. The Framework Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Caspian Sea was signed by the five Caspian littoral states in Tehran in 2003.
