Financial support should be allocated alongside regional and international cooperation to monitor the ecological state of the Caspian Sea, Khalaf Khalafov, the Representative of the President of Azerbaijan on special assignments, told journalists, Report informs.
According to Khalafov, there are significant environmental problems in the Caspian Sea: “The Azerbaijani side has repeatedly raised this issue. At the Ashgabat summit, the President of Azerbaijan for the first time called on the Caspian littoral states to take a more serious approach to the problem of the decline in the Caspian Sea level and its environmental problems.”
"These issues remain pressing today. The falling water levels in the Caspian Sea could lead to serious problems for the Caspian littoral countries, especially the settlements along the coast," Khalafov emphasized, urging solidarity among the nations involved.
The representative also pointed out that the littoral states should spare no effort in developing projects to control the Caspian Sea's water levels and protect its flora and fauna.
Khalafov further stressed the need to intensify efforts in all formats of cooperation related to the Caspian Sea: "Establishment of the permanent secretariat of the multilateral Convention that monitors the environmental status of the Caspian Sea remains an urgent issue. Currently, this secretariat is implemented by the UN organization.
"This secretariat should be transferred to one of the Caspian littoral countries, which should enhance its work and pay more attention to the ecological issues of the Caspian," he added.
Another problem highlighted by Khalafov is the pollution of the Caspian Sea from external sources, necessitating close examination of the issues affecting the water basins flowing into the Caspian.