COOPERATION IN THE CASPIAN SEA: PRINCIPLES, OBJECTIVES, PRIORITIES.

10 years ago, on august 12, 2006 entered into force, the framework Convention for the protection of the marine environment of the Caspian sea (Tehran Convention). This day, the five littoral States announced the Day of the Caspian sea.

Every year on August 12, Turkmenistan held events dedicated to this date. This year in the national tourist zone "Avaza" was organized scientific-practical conference «25th anniversary of Turkmenistan's independence: achievements in the field of protection of the marine environment of the Caspian sea» on the ecology of the Caspian sea holds children's competitions for the best drawings and pictures on the Caspian theme.

It should be stressed that since gaining its independence and began its participation in the dialogue, Turkmenistan headed to the building of equitable and mutually respectful negotiation process on the Caspian sea problems, active participation. Relevant in this connection it will be recalled that it was in Ashgabat in 2002, the first meeting of Heads of Caspian States, in fact laid the foundations of the system of the five-sided cooperation in the long term, which gave the first powerful impulse subject to the cooperation of States in various fields of the Caspian dialogue.

Since the Ashgabat summit, the five coastal States had done a lot of work on almost all major issues of cooperation in the Caspian sea. The defining characteristic of this process was the understanding of the fact that a multilateral dialogue on the Caspian sea issue should be conducted with full consideration of the interests of all parties, based on the principles of equality and mutual respect. The only way to consistently move forward to achieve common solutions, to reach concrete results and agreements.
Turkmenistan has always proceeded from the region of the Caspian basin is a unique, centuries-old archetype of the relationship of States and peoples, their traditions, cultures, spiritual values. Currently, there is formed a geo-strategic center of global significance, which includes important energy, transportation and communication nodes. Therefore, the need for joint efforts by countries of the region, their close cooperation with international organizations on the basis of the perception of community and the continuity of the main goals and objectives, seems especially relevant today. The five-sided cooperation on the Caspian sea is a unifying factor reflecting the desire of States to peace, harmony and cooperation. Any questions should be discussed in an atmosphere of good neighborly relations and strong partnerships.

In a positive way is now working on the main document – the draft Convention on the legal status of the Caspian sea. To date, managed to achieve a significant convergence of positions on most items. Determining the meaning of the document is a common desire and an effective determination to make the Caspian sea a zone of peace and cooperation, an important component of international strategic stability and security.

Of critical importance Turkmenistan attaches to the issues of cooperation in the Caspian sea in some areas. As we know, our country made a proposal for the development of the Agreement on the conservation and rational use of water biological resources of the Caspian sea. Turkmenistan is convinced that the issues of conservation of biological resources should be carried out on a systematic basis, through a new, clearly defined international legal mechanisms that would, in particular, reflect the restrictive measures on the catch of especially valuable fish species. The ordering relations in this region, the formation of an effective, meets generally accepted international practice institutional framework cooperation recognized to contribute to the establishment under the Agreement of the coordinating body, the Commission on water biological resources of the Caspian sea.

Turkmenistan initiated and developed the draft of another important document – the Agreement on cooperation in the field of prevention and liquidation of emergency situations in the Caspian sea. The Caspian sea is a zone of high risks of natural and technogenic character, carrying a potential threat to the ecosystem of the sea. Therefore, the creation of effective multilateral cooperation mechanisms to prevent and neutralize emergency situations is of paramount importance.

As we know, for the period 2013-2014 Turkmenistan held the rotating presidency of the Coordinating Committee on Hydrometeorology and pollution monitoring of the Caspian sea. Our country's approach to its presidency, believing that the joint work of the committee is an important part of our overall effort to preserve the unique natural heritage of the Caspian sea. In this context, of particular relevance is the signing of the Agreement on cooperation in Hydrometeorology of the Caspian sea, designed to give a systematic direction of activities of the Caspian States in this sphere.

Today objectively increases the role of the Caspian basin as a major transport hub. It is a strategic direction that offers the prospect of substantially increasing trade and economic relations between Caspian littoral countries and in the context of access to foreign markets. Obviously in this case, the transport component of interaction requires a strong legal base. Taking into account the importance of integrating the transport systems of the Caspian countries, coordination of multimodal transportation at the regional level, the President of Turkmenistan has initiated the elaboration of an Agreement on cooperation in the field of transport in the Caspian sea and the establishment of the Caspian Regional transport and logistics center as one of the elements of such cooperation.

The Caspian sea basin is rapidly becoming one of the world's major centers of production and transportation of hydrocarbons. It is an objective reality requiring adequate perception. Turkmenistan is convinced that cooperation of the Caspian States in the energy sector is highly promising, could give a powerful impetus to regional and international development, investment activity, and positively influence the overall geopolitical situation in this part of the globe.

The most important question that goes far beyond the regional framework to protect the natural resources of the Caspian sea. The unique biological complex of the basin, its coastal zone is, without exaggeration, the heritage of all mankind, and therefore requires special attention of the international community. However, the Caspian sea region is rapidly becoming one of the world's major centers of production and transportation of hydrocarbons. Speaking at the Global Conference of United Nations on sustainable development in June 2012, the President of Turkmenistan stressed: "Our common task is to combine objective economic interests and realities of international energy cooperation with the need to preserve the biodiversity of the Caspian sea, to prevent violations of the fragile ecological balance." Here, our country rightly counts on the support of the UN and its specialized agencies.

Turkmenistan considers cooperation in the Caspian sea as part of continental and global trends in which effective development of political, trade-economic, cultural and humanitarian ties are inseparable from the enduring foundations of stability and security in the pursuit of sustainable development, preservation of the environment, the introduction of high-tech production methods. In this sense, the Caspian States is a vast field for cooperation and for the near and long term. Our country is ready for such work, convinced that the accumulated experience of cooperation, age-old traditions of good neighborly relations in the Caspian sea need to preserve, increase and transmit to future generations. Celebrated on August 12 the Day of the Caspian sea is designed to make this process a special meaning and give it a new impulse.

The press service of the MFA