TEHRAN- Ali Salajeqeh, the head of the Department of Environment (DOE), has said the current environmental problems of the Caspian Sea require urgent and coordinated action by the five littoral states bordering the sea.

The meeting of the ministers of the contracting parties to the Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Caspian Sea with the presence of the ministers of Iran, Russia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan was held from September 30 to 31 in Geneva.

In his speech at the meeting, Salajeqeh stated that the destruction of livelihoods and the marine environment is the result of the shrinking of the water level of the Caspian Sea, IRIB reported.

He said: "Insufficient attention to the quality of the Caspian Sea environment puts the economy and the livelihood of the marginal communities at risk. The only salvation depends on the immediate and coordinated action of all five countries bordering the sea.”

Salajeqeh appreciated Mukhtar Babayev, Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Azerbaijan Republic, and the officials of the United Nations Environment Program European (UNEP) Regional Office for holding the consultative meeting of the ministers and high-ranking officials of the environment of the member countries of the Tehran Convention and the administration of the interim secretariat of this convention.

"The Caspian Sea is a valuable resource for the people living in its vicinity. It is a common natural heritage that must be preserved for current and future generations,” IRIB quoted Salajeqeh as saying.

The official pointed out that by preserving the environment of this sea, people and coastal communities will all benefit from the Sea and economic activities will be reinforced to achieve sustainable development.

"Nevertheless, there are still many challenges ahead to achieve sustainable development in the region. Although guaranteeing a stable future for the Caspian Sea has been covered to an acceptable extent by the Tehran Convention and its additional protocols, drifting a timed implementation plan in line with the Convention and its additional protocols to be implemented in full is far more necessary and urgent.

Pointing to the increase in Caspian seal casualties as a major environmental concern, he called for an immediate meeting between the managers of the fisheries organizations and the environment departments of the five coastal countries.

He also mentioned the other issues caused by the decrease in the water level of the Caspian Sea.

In addition to its negative effects on shipping, it has also affected the livelihood of coastal people, aquatic life, and the unique vegetation of the Caspian Sea, he said.

The Islamic Republic of Iran is fully ready to cooperate with littoral states to control the level of water reduction in the Caspian Sea.

Another challenge that was referred to by Iran's head of DOE was the pollution caused by land as well as oil.

He stated, "Ignoring the pollution will deprive the future generations of a clean and fruitful sea. In combating oil pollution, fortunately, the Aktau protocol has been signed and come into force. Cooperation with this protocol can be a part of the solution.

He highlighted that what was said is only part of the most important issues facing us in the Caspian Sea. These challenges are impossible to overcome unless with structured and regular cooperation in the form of the Tehran Convention.

After about 17 years since the Tehran Convention came into force, we are at a stage where achieving its goals depends on institutional and serious measures.

The presence of coherent and strong secretariats in the region can provide the necessary platform for these measures to be taken.

"Fortunately, relevant decisions have been made in this regard, and we are obliged to take steps forward to protect the environment of the Caspian Sea by adhering to these decisions."

Salajeqeh said at the sixth meeting of the contracting parties in Baku, all parties, with a commitment to common interests and respect for the environment of the Caspian Sea, tried to reach a consensus on the important issues under discussion, but reaching a common opinion faced serious challenges. That's why we are committed today in this meeting to solve these challenges.

I believe completing and finalizing the Baku statement will provide an opportunity for the expert groups to discuss the disputed issues and reach a concrete result.

So far, we have missed a lot of opportunities to implement the Tehran Convention, and many of the current environmental problems are the result of that.

Therefore, I request the heads of the delegations of the Caspian Sea littoral states to take firm steps together, due to our commitment to our common heritage, to finalize the headquarters and organizational arrangements of the Secretariat of the Tehran Convention.

In the end, Salajeqeh stated, "Considering the essential role of regular and timely holding of the meeting of the parties in advancing its goals, I hope that by the next meeting of the parties in Tehran, the Secretariat of the Tehran Convention to be established in the region.

Tehran convention pollution to follow up on Caspian Sea

On August 8, Salajeqeh said the issue of pollution in the Caspian Sea would be followed up on within the framework of the Tehran Convention.

“We hope that we can solve both the problems of water rights and pollution within the framework of the Tehran Convention," ISNA quoted Salajeqeh as saying.

The entrances to the Caspian Sea have been closed by neighboring countries, especially the Volga River, he said, adding: “On the other hand, the amount of precipitation has decreased in the entire Caspian Sea watershed.”

Some statistics say that the Caspian Sea has receded by almost one meter over the past 4-5 years. On average, the Caspian Sea recedes 20 centimeters per year, Salajeqeh noted.

Tehran Convention

In 2003, the Caspian Sea littoral states, comprising the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Russian Federation, and Turkmenistan, signed the (Tehran) Framework Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Caspian Sea.

Following ratification by all five Governments of the Caspian littoral states, the Tehran Convention entered into force on the 12th of August 2006.

The objective of this Convention is the protection of the Caspian environment from all sources of pollution including the protection, preservation, restoration, and sustainable and rational use of the biological resources of the Caspian Sea.

The Tehran Convention serves as an umbrella legal instrument that not only aims at protecting the Caspian environment from all sources of pollution but also targets the preservation, restoration, and protection of the Caspian Sea species and habitats.

MT/MG