Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Patrushev participated in a meeting of deputy heads of government of the Caspian states
Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Patrushev participated in a meeting of deputy heads of government of the Caspian states
Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Patrushev participated in a meeting of deputy heads of government of the Caspian states
Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Patrushev participated in a meeting of deputy heads of government of the Caspian states. The discussions centred on key areas of joint efforts to mitigate the adverse consequences of the Caspian Sea’s shallowing.
“The Caspian Sea holds significant ecological and socio-economic importance for our countries. Naturally, the Russian Federation is deeply concerned about its current condition. At present, we are witnessing an unprecedentedly sharp decline in sea levels. This has severely affected various sectors of the economy, particularly agriculture, transport, mineral extraction, and tourism. Furthermore, the rapid exposure of land is leading to soil degradation and desertification,” Dmitry Patrushev stated.
The Deputy Prime Minister noted that Russia has been conducting extensive research on the Caspian Sea for many years. Its shallowing poses a major challenge for all five littoral states – Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, and Russia – and thus, studying its causes requires a comprehensive approach. Dmitry Patrushev emphasised the importance of forecasting potential future developments and formulating measures to protect the Caspian Sea’s ecosystem while adapting the economy to ongoing natural and climatic processes.
The Deputy Prime Minister proposed establishing a multilateral cooperation mechanism to develop common standards and methodologies for assessing fluctuations in the sea’s water levels. He added that the Coordinating Committee on Hydrometeorology of the Caspian Sea could serve as a platform for joint efforts, given its existing framework for data exchange.
“The Russian Federation is committed to constructive engagement with all Caspian states. Our joint efforts must proceed without any politicisation: we bear responsibility to present and future generations for preserving the Caspian Sea and ensuring the sustainable development of this region,” the Deputy Prime Minister affirmed.
Dmitry Patrushev stressed that Russia also hopes to intensify regional dialogue on the Caspian’s shallowing under the Tehran Convention.
