Caspian Environmental Summit Held in Avaza
On October 9, the Caspian Environmental Summit took place in the Avaza National Tourist Zone, chaired by President Serdar Berdimuhamedov. The high-level meeting brought together the leaders of the Caspian littoral states: President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Masoud Pezeshkian, President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, and President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin.
The holding of this forum marks a new stage in the development of regional dialogue. The foundations for five-party cooperation were laid by historic initiatives from Turkmenistan: the first Summit of Caspian Littoral States held in Ashgabat in 2002, and the first Caspian Economic Forum held in Avaza in August 2019—the latter initiated by the National Leader of the Turkmen People and Chairman of the Khalk Maslakhaty, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.
In his opening remarks at the summit, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov emphasized the particular importance of elevating Caspian environmental issues to the level of heads of state. Amidst global climate change, our country views the sea’s ecology not merely as a matter of nature conservation, but as a fundamental basis for the sustainable development and well-being of the entire region.
A practical manifestation of this policy is the Caspian Environmental Initiative—put forward by Turkmenistan at the 78th session of the UN General Assembly—which aims to pool the scientific expertise and technological solutions of the participating nations to monitor and protect the marine environment. The Head of State also underscored the need to strengthen the institutional framework of the Framework Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Caspian Sea (Tehran Convention).
President Serdar Berdimuhamedov’s address paid special attention to the issue of the Caspian Sea’s receding water levels. The Head of Turkmenistan supported the initiative to establish a Commission on the receding water levels of the Caspian Sea at the level of deputy heads of government and proposed creating specialized working groups under its auspices, involving scientists, experts, specialists, and representatives of government agencies from the Caspian littoral states.
"We also advocate for holding the Commission’s first meeting in Azerbaijan in the first half of 2027," President Serdar Berdimuhamedov said. Furthermore, a proposal was made to transform the Caspian Environmental Summit into a permanent cooperation platform.
The heads of state speaking at the summit discussed in detail the pressing challenges facing the region.
President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev noted the growing strategic, transport, and energy significance of the Caspian, emphasizing that preserving its unique ecosystem—based on the 2018 Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea—is an absolute priority for all littoral states.
President of Iran Masoud Pezeshkian highlighted the scale of environmental threats, including pollution and climate change, noting that overcoming them requires firm political will and close coordination of efforts among all Caspian littoral states.
President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev described the crisis regarding Caspian water levels as a serious threat to both the environment and the region's economy, emphasizing the need to leverage all available scientific and legal capabilities.
President of Russia Vladimir Putin focused on the impact of climatic factors and evaporation on the sea's water balance, supporting the development of comprehensive joint measures and the maximum utilization of existing international institutions. The Russian leader also commended Turkmenistan's efforts to foster cooperation among the Caspian states and ensure the environmental stability of the Caspian Sea.
President Serdar Berdimuhamedov noted that the environmental issues facing the Caspian Sea today deserve greater attention than ever before. The Caspian has reached its lowest water level in a century, and global climate change is directly affecting its water balance. In this regard, the Head of State emphasized the need for continued joint efforts and the exchange of experience to preserve the Caspian Sea's unique ecosystems.
At the national level, Turkmenistan demonstrates a consistent approach: all industrial and transport facilities along the Turkmen coast—including the Turkmenbashi International Seaport and the infrastructure of the "Avaza" National Tourist Zone—are being developed in accordance with strict "green" standards.
Following the Caspian Environmental Summit, a Decision by the heads of the Caspian littoral states was signed and a Chairman’s Statement was adopted, affirming the parties' firm commitment to preserving the Caspian as a bridge for peace, good-neighborliness, and mutually beneficial cooperation.
Having concluded the international events in Avaza, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov returned to Ashgabat.
