TEHRAN –Attending the tenth meeting of BRICS environment ministers, Ali Salajeqeh, head of the Department of Environment (DOE), highlighted the intergovernmental organization’s potential to expand cooperation and develop multilateralism for environmental protection.

The meeting was held under the Chairship of the Russian Federation on June 28, in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia.

“Environmental protection is a top priority in Iran’s strategic policies and development plans,” IRIB quoted Salajeqeh as saying.

“However, the neighboring countries’ neglect in addressing the pollution of water resources in the upstream basins and their failure to fulfill bilateral obligations, including the provision of environmental rights has had negative impacts on the ecosystem, and the lives of plant and animal species.

It has also intensified sand and dust storms and other natural phenomena,” he added.

The official went on to stress that unilateral, unjust, and illegitimate sanctions against Iran have resulted in environmental degradation and hampered sustainable development.

Emphasizing the common destiny of all countries in preserving the environment, Salajeqeh expressed hope that regardless of political issues, all nations could cooperate and utilize each other's capacities,  knowledge, technology, and financial resources to make a healthy, pollution-free environment for the next generation.

Moreover, on the sidelines of the 10th meeting,  Salajeqeh held a meeting with Russia’s Minister of Natural Resources and  Environment, Alexander Kozlov.

During the meeting, Salajeqeh pointed out that the relationship between Iran and Russia is at a high level.

The two countries have common positions that help to enhance cooperation and strengthen relations and use the capacity to overcome obstacles posed by sanctions, he stated.

Pointing out that the number of the Caspian seal species is declining, he said, unfortunately, the number of carcasses of this species has increased along the coasts of Iran. “Since Caspian seal is the only mammal species in the Sea, we must take immediate actions to protect this valuable species.”

Kozlov, for his part, said: “We have first-class information in this regard, which can be helpful,” he added.

Salajeqeh also extended an invitation to Kozlov to participate in the 7th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the Framework Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Caspian Sea, known as the Tehran Convention.  

Caspian Sea countries address environmental crimes

The second meeting of the representatives of Caspian Sea countries to deal with environmental crimes was held from April 4-5 in Baku, Azerbaijan.

The five littoral states, namely Iran, Russia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan, discussed the environmental challenges and harms facing the Caspian Sea.

They also exchanged views on protecting the aquatic resources of the Caspian Sea and upholding national laws related to the environment and the management of natural resources in the Sea.

The officials emphasized the need to enhance and expand judicial cooperation among the five states.

The Iranian delegation led by Gholam-Abbas Torki, deputy prosecutor general, highlighted the preservation of the Caspian Sea biodiversity, national laws related to the environment, and management of natural resources in the Caspian Sea.

The right to the environment is considered one of the fundamental rights, Torki said.

“The Caspian Sea is of great economic importance for the littoral states in terms of diverse resources and reserves, distinct ecological features, remarkable genetic richness, and unique biological diversity,” he further noted.

“We have gathered to protect the four main components of life in the Sea including water, air, coast, and biodiversity of the Caspian Sea, among which the latter is of significant importance since it involves the preservation of genes and rare species and the ecosystem of the Caspian Sea,” Torki highlighted.

The Iranian delegation discussed the necessity of implementing the "Framework Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Caspian Sea", known as the Tehran Conference, and its additional protocols, which include obligations and legal frameworks for cooperation on prevention, reduction, and control of pollution, protection, maintenance, restoration and logical use of marine living resources and the management of coastal areas which was welcomed by the prosecutors' offices of the five coastal countries.

To deal with environmental crimes in the Caspian Sea, in addition to boosting scientific and educational cooperation between the general prosecutor's offices, it was suggested to create a comprehensive joint information bank to tackle Caspian Sea issues, forecast the compensation system and create special funds to protect and address environmental pollution and money laundering caused by environmental crimes.

On the sidelines of the meeting, Torki and his Azerbaijani counterpart Kamran Aliyev, held a meeting.

Referring to the good judicial cooperation between the prosecutor general offices of the two countries, Aliyev lauded Iran’s effective measures and approaches in solving some judicial challenges. He expressed hope to expand cooperation between the two countries to safeguard the Caspian Sea environment.

MT/MG