SERDAR BERDIMUHAMEDOV: THE CASPIAN ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVE IS AN IMPORTANT STEP IN PROTECTING THE SEA

Caspian Sea Day is celebrated annually in Turkmenistan on August 12 to commemorate the entry into force of the Framework Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Caspian Sea.

President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov addressed the participants of the scientific and practical conference “Protection of the Caspian Sea Ecosystem: Regional Cooperation and Sustainable Development,” held to mark Caspian Sea Day. The Head of State reviewed the key stages in the development of regional partnership, beginning with the First Caspian Summit in Ashgabat in 2002, and outlined strategic objectives for preserving this unique body of water.

Turkmenistan is systematically advancing the Caspian Environmental Initiative, aimed at uniting the efforts of the countries of the region and relevant international institutions. According to the Head of State, issues related to climate change, the protection of water resources, and the preservation of unique biodiversity require coordinated action by the entire international community. The adoption of the Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea and the Framework Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment laid a solid foundation for environmental diplomacy.

Alongside environmental issues, the address emphasized the region’s key role in the global transport system. The infrastructure of the Turkmenbashi International Seaport is transforming the country into a major transport and logistics hub at the crossroads of routes between Europe and Asia. Building on the legacy of the 2012 Avaza Environmental Forum, the First Caspian Economic Forum in 2019, and the Sixth Caspian Summit in 2022, Turkmenistan continues to put forward important initiatives aimed at integrating economic, transit, and environmental objectives.