Asgabat ratifies protocol to combat oil pollution in Caspian Sea

Majlis (Parliament) of Turkmenistan at a regular meeting of the fourth convocation ratified the Protocol Concerning Regional Preparedness, Response and Cooperation in Combating Oil Pollution Incidents to the Framework Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Caspian Sea, an official Turkmen source said.

Experts note that the protocol was developed due to the fact that the pollution of the Caspian Sea with oil may threaten marine environment and special measures are necessary in the case of incidents with ships, pipelines, fixed and floating platforms, abandoned wells and ground sources of pollution.

The protocol was signed by the Caspian littoral states - Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia and Turkmenistan in Aktau in August 2011.

The Framework Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Caspian Sea (Tehran Convention) was signed by the Caspian states in November 2003. This is the first legally binding agreement ratified by all five Caspian states, which defines the main regulation directions of human impact on the marine environment, protection and reproduction of biological resources of the Caspian Sea, as well as procedural issues of Caspian states' common decisions.

Turkmenistan ratified the Tehran Convention in August 2004, following ratification by all the Caspian countries, the Convention officially took effect on August 12, 2006.

The article notes that three more protocols to the Convention has currently been developed by the countries: the Protocol on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context, the Protocol on the Protection of the Caspian Sea against pollution from land-based sources and activities, Protocol on biodiversity conservation.


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