High-level government officials from the five Caspian Sea countries have met in Baku, Azerbaijan to prepare for work to be carried out on environmental protection in 2016 and 2017, which is to include enhanced cooperation against oil spills.

Delegates from Azerbaijan, Iran, Russia, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan met from 10 to 11 November to discuss arrangements regarding the administration and staffing of a Secretariat for the Tehran Convention, which facilitates cooperation on environmental issues related to the Sea. The Secretariat will rotate between Caspian littoral states every four years.

Officials also reviewed the proposed 2016-2017 Programme of Work, which will include the entry into force and implementation of the Aktau Protocol covering regional preparedness, response and co-operation in combating oil pollution incidents, as well as further engagement with the private sector.

Delegates furthermore cleared the terms of reference and budget of the Convention Trust Fund, which will be submitted to the sixth Conference of the Parties of the Tehran Convention for approval early next year.

The Tehran Convention is the first regional legally binding instrument signed by all five Caspian littoral states. It serves as an overarching governance framework which lays down the general requirements and institutional mechanism for environmental protection and sustainable development in the Caspian Sea region.

The (interim) Secretariat of the Tehran Convention is administered by the UNEP Regional Office for Europe.

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