Turkmenistan marks Caspian Sea Day on 12 August, commemorating the entry into force of the Framework Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Caspian Sea (Tehran Convention).
To mark the occasion, the President of Turkmenistan addressed participants of the scientific and practical conference “Protecting the Caspian Sea Ecosystem: Regional Cooperation and Sustainable Development.”
The President congratulated the participants on the opening of the conference, highlighting the Caspian Sea as a sea of peace, friendship and constructive cooperation. He stressed the strategic importance of the Caspian region in fostering trade, economic, cultural and humanitarian ties among the countries of the region.
The President also recalled key milestones in Caspian cooperation, many of which were initiated by Turkmenistan.
The First Caspian Summit, held in Ashgabat in April 2002, laid the foundations for political dialogue, efforts to establish the legal status of the Caspian Sea and cooperation on protecting its marine environment.
The First Caspian Environmental Forum, held in the Avaza National Tourist Zone in 2012, provided an important platform for sharing experience in protecting the Caspian ecosystem and environment, advancing scientific research and expanding regional cooperation. The First Caspian Economic Forum, held in Avaza on 12 August 2019, opened new opportunities for strengthening trade and economic ties among the Caspian littoral states.
The Sixth Caspian Summit, held in Ashgabat on 29 June 2022, set out further areas for cooperation in the political, economic, environmental and humanitarian spheres.
The President stressed that global environmental challenges require countries to join forces in protecting the environment. Issues such as climate change, safeguarding water resources and preventing marine pollution are not the responsibility of individual states alone, but a shared task for the international community.
According to the President, protecting the Caspian Sea’s unique ecosystems and biodiversity, including its rare plant and animal species, is among Turkmenistan’s priorities.
“The Caspian Environmental Initiative promoted by our country is an important step towards protecting the marine ecosystem, pooling efforts and preserving this unique natural heritage for future generations,” he said.
The President concluded by noting that the conference is expected to contribute to scientific research into the Caspian Sea’s resources, help ensure a healthy environmental setting and strengthen good-neighbourly relations.///nCa, 12 August 2026