The States of the Tehran Convention signed a protocol on the protection of the Caspian Sea
July 20 in Moscow, representatives of five states of the Tehran Convention signed a protocol on environmental impact assessment of the Caspian Sea. This was reported by the press center of the Ministry of Natural Resources of Russia.
The Extraordinary Session of the Conference of the Parties to the Framework Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Caspian Sea (Tehran Convention) was held at the Office.
The Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan Mukhtar Babayev, the deputy head for the protection of the marine environment of the Organization for the Protection of the Environment of Iran Parvin Farchi, the Minister of Energy of Kazakhstan Kanat Bozumbayev, the Chairman of the State Committee for Environmental Protection and Land Resources Batyrmyrat Orazmyradov attended the session along with the representatives of UNEP. The delegation of the Russian Federation was headed by the Minister of Natural Resources and Ecology Dmitry Kobylkin.
The Protocol on Environmental Impact Assessment in Transboundary Context to the Tehran Convention was adopted 15 years after the signing of the Convention itself in 2003. This fact was called historic by the parties.
The document will ensure the continuation of the practical implementation of the provisions of the Tehran Convention on the protection of the ecology of the Caspian Sea, and will help rational environmental management in the region.
Dmitry Kobylkin confirmed the permanent priority of environmental activities in the Caspian region and called the dialogue of the Caspian states "an example of a successful regional partnership."
He also noted that since 2003 a huge joint work was done to agree positions, thanked international experts, partners, representatives of UNEP for support, expressed hope for further constructive dialogue, including with companies that are working with the use of resources of the Caspian and coastal areas .
"The signing of the protocol is a really effective mechanism of international environmental impact on prevention and reduction of pollution, preservation and restoration of the marine environment of the Caspian Sea. At the fifth Caspian Summit in Kazakhstan in August this year, the signed document will become one of the "backbone" for the adoption of joint decisions by the presidents of our countries, "Dmitry Kobylkin emphasized.
In accordance with the Protocol, countries should follow a number of agreed practical procedures for assessing the environmental impact of the project in another country.
"It's nice to see that the Caspian states are gathering together and are committed to the future prosperity of this region's pearl and unique ecosystem. I am convinced that this will be a great victory for the environment of the region, economy and long-term security," said the head of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) Eric Solheim.
The protocol will enter into force three months after ratification by the parliaments of the signature countries.
