Today, Caspian Sea Day was solemnly celebrated in the Avaza National Tourist Zone.

Ensuring environmental well-being is one of the priority areas of the Fatherland’s foreign policy, initiated by the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslakhaty of Turkmenistan, Hero Arkadag, and now consistently implemented under the leadership of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov.

Turkmenistan supports the deepening of effective cooperation in the protection of the Caspian marine environment with all interested partners, primarily within the framework of the United Nations.

The importance of this largest body of water on the planet is determined by its enormous resource potential. It is home to numerous rare species of flora and fauna, including those listed on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Many of the local flora and fauna are endemic, constituting a valuable reservoir of biological diversity for the region.

As is well known, the annual celebration of Caspian Sea Day commemorates the entry into force of the Framework Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Caspian Sea (August 12, 2006, Tehran), which serves as the legal basis for protecting its unique ecosystem. The Tehran Convention aims not only to protect the Caspian Sea’s environment but also to carefully preserve and restore its marine environment. The year “Independent Neutral Turkmenistan – Homeland of Determined Winged Racers” marks the 20th anniversary of the entry into force of this important international document.

The main event dedicated to Caspian Sea Day was the scientific and practical conference “Protection of the Caspian Sea Ecosystem: Regional Cooperation and Sustainable Development,” held at the Berkarar Hotel in the Avaza National Tourist Zone.

Members of the country’s government, heads and employees of individual ministries and departments, specialists from relevant structures and scientific institutions of the country, as well as representatives of diplomatic missions accredited in Turkmenistan, and international and regional organizations took part in the forum.

An exhibition displaying the natural beauty of the Caspian Sea and the country’s achievements in environmental conservation was unveiled in the hotel lobby.

At the opening ceremony of the forum, a welcoming address from President Serdar Berdimuhamedov to its participants was read.

As noted in the message, the Caspian Sea has gained wide international recognition as a sea of ​​peace, friendship, and benevolent cooperation. It is a priceless asset with unique natural features, rich biodiversity, and economic and geopolitical significance. Throughout history, the Caspian Sea has united the peoples living along its shores, creating favorable conditions for the development of trade, economic, cultural, and humanitarian ties between them.

Noting that preserving the unique ecosystem, biodiversity, and rare species of flora and fauna of the Caspian Sea is among our country’s priorities, the head of state emphasized that Turkmenistan actively cooperates with international organizations and states of the Caspian region, and the Caspian Environmental Initiative, promoted by our country, is an important step in protecting the marine ecosystem, uniting efforts, and preserving this unique natural heritage for future generations.

The President of Turkmenistan’s welcoming address to the participants of the scientific and practical conference was met with thunderous applause from those gathered.

Then the forum delegates made their presentations.

As the Turkmen participants noted, in the era of the Renaissance of a new era of a powerful state, based on the noble initiatives of Hero Arkadag and under the wise leadership of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, an environmental policy aimed at harmonizing the country’s economic growth with environmental protection is being successfully implemented. In this regard, close attention is being paid to the rational use of natural resources, the implementation of environmentally friendly technologies and a “green” economy, ensuring environmental security in the country and the region, and the protection of biodiversity.

Important initiatives aimed at developing trade, economic, cultural, and humanitarian ties in the Caspian region are being successfully implemented. All of these initiatives are aimed at transforming the Caspian Sea into a zone of peace, trust, and environmental well-being and are receiving broad support from the Caspian littoral states and major international organizations.

In this regard, the holding of the First Caspian Summit in Ashgabat, as well as the First Caspian Environmental Forum and the First Caspian Economic Forum in the Avaza National Tourist Zone, was evidence of Turkmenistan’s leading role in enhancing cooperation between the Caspian states.

The Sixth Caspian Summit, held in our country on June 29, 2022, marked another important step in expanding the potential of partnerships to protect the Caspian ecosystem.

As noted, our country’s constructive initiatives, voiced at the UN General Assembly and other major forums, aimed at addressing environmental protection issues, the rational use of water and energy resources, and the creation of a reliable system for protecting the ecology of the Caspian Sea, are receiving recognition from the entire international community.

In this regard, the significance of the Caspian Environmental Initiative, proposed by Turkmenistan at the 78th session of the UN General Assembly in 2023, was particularly emphasized. It aims to serve as an international platform for cooperation on a wide range of issues related to the protection of the environment and bioresources of the Caspian Sea, as well as addressing a number of environmental issues. Emphasis was placed on the proposal of the President of Turkmenistan, announced on September 23, 2025, at the plenary session of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly, to hold a Caspian Environmental Forum in 2026. This clearly demonstrates Turkmenistan’s close attention to preserving the Caspian Sea ecosystem and will serve as an important tool in uniting the efforts of the Caspian littoral states focused on environmental well-being.

In recent years, Turkmenistan’s Caspian coast has become a hub for major international events. The Avaza National Tourist Zone, established on the Caspian coast, is not only a recreational destination but also plays a significant role in its positive impact on the environment. Today, this popular resort area serves as a model for an integrated and sustainable approach to utilizing the region’s mineral, biological, health resort, and tourism resources. It’s worth noting that the key characteristic of all health resorts, hotels, and industrial facilities being built on the Caspian coast is their compliance with international environmental safety standards.

The presentations also provided information on the work carried out by the country’s relevant agencies in the context of interstate and intergovernmental agreements approved by the five Caspian states.

As noted, other key objectives include regularly monitoring the Caspian’s biological resources and the state of the marine environment, as well as conducting a wide range of scientific research. The Khazar State Nature Reserve plays a key role in the conservation and study of the marine flora and fauna, ensuring the protection of rare and endangered plants and animals native to the Caspian region, including the Caspian seal, various species of fish and birds, and other wildlife. Furthermore, scientific research is conducted here to study the marine flora and fauna, monitor the state of ecosystems, and develop measures to protect them.

The floor was then given to representatives of foreign embassies in Turkmenistan, international and regional organizations.

As emphasized, the Caspian Sea is a sea of ​​friendship, peace, security, cooperation, and harmony, uniting the economic potential and expanding traditional ties among the countries of the region. Friendly relations and the consistent strengthening of cooperation between the Caspian states serve as a solid foundation for peace and sustainable development in the region.

The littoral states fully support all efforts aimed at preserving the Caspian Sea as a space of peace and good neighborliness. Caspian summits held with the participation of the heads of state and government of the Caspian littoral countries, Caspian Economic Forums, meetings at the level of foreign ministers, and other events contribute to the successful development of five-way cooperation.

Trade, economic, and transport cooperation between the Caspian states is also steadily expanding. In particular, significant importance is attached to the development of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Corridor—the main route connecting Europe with Central Asia—which will expand economic ties between the region’s countries and reduce freight transportation times.

As noted, the Caspian Sea is currently exposed to environmental threats due to climate change, requiring a scientifically based, collaborative approach. For example, the decline in the Caspian Sea level was one of the key issues at the Sixth Caspian Summit, held in Ashgabat in 2022. Furthermore, issues related to preventing sea level decline were discussed at meetings organized as part of the Third UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries, which was organized at the initiative of Turkmenistan in the Avaza National Tourist Zone.

Conference participants highly praised the initiatives implemented by our country in this area and the favorable opportunities created for fruitful joint work.

The importance of the Avaza Programme of Action for 2024–2034 and the Avaza Political Declaration, adopted at the Third UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries, was particularly emphasized.

As noted, the structural reforms and measures outlined in the Avaza Programme of Action in the areas of trade and economic partnership and regional integration, transit links and transport connectivity, and adaptation to climate change are of great importance for both the Caspian region and Central Asia.

The speeches also emphasized the importance of our country’s international environmental initiatives.

Turkmenistan’s accession to the Global Methane Commitment, as well as its initiatives to establish the Regional Climate Technology Centre for Central Asia and the Regional Centre to Combat Desertification, are widely considered to demonstrate its commitment to cooperation in environmental protection and climate change mitigation.

The conference also provided an overview of the work accomplished over the past 20 years under the Framework Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Caspian Sea. The Convention is unique in that it is the first international legal instrument regulating relations between Caspian states in the areas of ecology and sustainable environmental management. The Convention allows for a more precise definition of the parties’ obligations and a prompt response to environmental threats through special protocols adopted under its auspices.

The Tehran Convention serves as a framework for interstate cooperation in such important areas as preventing pollution during the exploration, production, and transportation of hydrocarbon resources, monitoring the state of the marine environment, conducting joint scientific research, and assessing environmental impacts.

Emphasizing the need for a comprehensive approach to implementing the objectives arising from the Tehran Convention, speakers emphasized the importance of consolidating efforts to address the identified tasks, as well as further expanding interaction between relevant agencies and specialists. In this context, proposals were made to strengthen regional scientific systems, expand information exchange, and establish a Caspian Scientific Partnership that would unite research institutes across the region. The importance of introducing innovations and modern technologies, new control and monitoring methods, and the use of modern solutions such as artificial intelligence and information platforms was also emphasized.

In this regard, the significance of Turkmenistan’s initiative to establish a Regional Center for Climate Change Technologies in Central Asia was noted. The center could become a platform integrating policy, science, finance, and innovation, and will accelerate work on climate change adaptation, water resource management, renewable energy development, and ecosystem restoration.

The speeches also emphasized the role of young people in combating climate change and ensuring environmental well-being.

As is well known, young people around the world are actively engaged in the climate agenda and are putting forward environmental initiatives. Expanding their opportunities in the Caspian region is not only an investment in the future but also a key factor in implementing relevant solutions.

Summing up the forum, participants emphasized that Caspian Sea Day, celebrated in the Caspian littoral countries, once again highlights the importance of strengthening cooperation, peace, and trust in the region. Those gathered also reaffirmed the need to further advance international cooperation to ensure reliable environmental protection of the Caspian Sea and realize its potential for universal prosperity and progress.

Following the conference, its participants adopted an Address to the President of Turkmenistan, expressing gratitude for the important initiatives to develop trade, economic, and socio-cultural ties in the Caspian region, to transform the Caspian Sea into a zone of peace, trust, and environmental well-being, and for the effective measures to enhance cooperation between the Caspian states.

Thus, the scientific and practical conference “Protection of the Caspian Sea Ecosystem: Regional Cooperation and Sustainable Development” further demonstrated Turkmenistan’s successful environmental diplomacy, serving as an effective platform for measures taken to ensure environmental stability in the region and coordinate the joint efforts of the Caspian states to preserve the unique ecosystem, biodiversity, and natural resources of the Caspian.

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Today, in the Avaza National Tourist Zone, as part of the celebrations marking Caspian Sea Day, Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers and Minister of Foreign Affairs R. Meredov held meetings with the Regional Coordinator for Central Asia of the International Organization for Migration, Serhan Aktoprak; the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the European Union to Turkmenistan, Beata Peksa; the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Turkmenistan, Xiaojun Grace Wang; and the Head of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe Centre in Ashgabat, William Leaf.

The meetings discussed areas of bilateral cooperation, including such important issues as sustainable development in the Caspian region, environmental protection, and the development of environmental diplomacy. The importance of implementing joint projects to preserve the unique ecosystem of the Caspian Sea was also noted.

The parties exchanged views on the transition to a green economy, strengthening energy security, and opportunities for expanding cooperation with specialized structures of international organizations.

While commending Turkmenistan’s international environmental initiatives, representatives of international and regional organizations expressed their willingness to support projects implemented by our state to strengthen global stability and prosperity, as well as achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

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On the occasion of Caspian Sea Day, forum delegates also participated in competitions in various sports, in which heads and representatives of diplomatic missions of foreign countries and international organizations in Turkmenistan took part.

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