Turkmenbashi:An expanded meeting of the Caspian Environmental Summit was held in Turkmenbashi, Turkmenistan, on October 9, attended by President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev.
According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, President Aliyev expressed gratitude to Turkmenistan’s President Serdar Berdimuhamedov for initiating the summit. He emphasized the importance of preserving the Caspian Sea as a zone of peace and stability, highlighting its strategic economic significance and the need for cooperation among littoral states.
President Aliyev pointed out the serious issue of the Caspian Sea’s declining water levels, which have led to a decrease in surface area by over 20,000 square kilometers. This environmental concern also affects the economic activities and lives of coastal communities, with Azerbaijan alone seeing nearly 30,000 hectares of new dry land.
In his address, President Aliyev advocated for the creation of special expert groups to investigate the causes of the declining water levels and suggested establishing a permanent cooperation mechanism. He noted that the decline is not solely due to climate change, but also factors such as reduced river inflow and human economic activities.
President Berdimuhamedov thanked President Aliyev for his remarks and reiterated Turkmenistan’s commitment to improving the Caspian Sea’s ecological condition, emphasizing the importance of continued collaboration on environmental issues.