The delegation led by the Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan R.Meredov took part in the meeting of the foreign ministers of the Caspian states held in Moscow on December 5, 2023.
In his speech, the head of the Turkmen delegation named sea level decline as a pressing problem requiring close study, attention and an integrated approach. In this regard, he focused on the need to create a five-party working group, the purpose of which should be to study the problems associated with the decrease in water volumes in the Caspian Sea. The need to develop measures to prevent and mitigate the consequences of shallowing was emphasized and Turkmenistan’s readiness to prepare a draft relevant legal document was expressed.
In this context, Turkmenistan proposed to accelerate the approval of the draft Agreement between the Governments of the Caspian states on cooperation in the field of marine scientific research in the Caspian Sea.
The head of the delegation of Turkmenistan noted energy cooperation in the Caspian Sea as another important and fundamental issue. The key aspect here is the implementation of Article 14 of the Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea, which clearly formulates the rights of the parties to lay cables and pipelines along the bottom of the reservoir. It was stated that Turkmenistan, in general, proceeds from the fact that the construction of underwater infrastructure in the Caspian meets the economic needs of coastal states and serves as an important condition for ensuring energy security and sustainability in Eurasia based on equal consideration of the interests and benefits of energy producers, consumers and transit countries.
At the meeting, the readiness of the Caspian states for close cooperation on environmental issues was confirmed, in accordance with the agreements of the Sixth Caspian Summit in Ashgabat last summer. In this regard, the high importance of active international interaction within the framework of the “Caspian Environmental Initiative” put forward by the President of Turkmenistan was noted.
Speaking about large-scale plans for cooperation, the Head of the Foreign Ministry of Turkmenistan emphasized that the success and effectiveness of this work can be ensured only in the conditions of maintaining and strengthening a strong system of security and stability in the Caspian region, with the timely neutralization of potential threats. The Caspian Sea, R.Meredov emphasized, must remain a zone of stability and trust, not subject to risks for peace and development.
Following the meeting, a Statement by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Caspian states was adopted.
