ITAR-TASS,
4, February 2008

Asgabat, 4 February: The first regional seminar on the problems of monitoring pollution in the Caspian Sea kicked off in the Turkmen capital today [4 February].

Delegations from Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan and Russia, environment experts, representatives from international organizations and a number of well-known foreign oil companies arrived there yesterday [3 February]. The seminar was organized by the Turkmen Ministry of Nature Protection and the EU/TACIS [programme of technical assistance to CIS countries] as part of the Caspian Environmental Programme (CEP).

The seminar noted that a new environmental project would make it possible to assess the level of pollution in the Caspian Sea and to establish its sources as well as the area of its spread and the composition of organic pollutants.

Therefore, a number of scientific sea expeditions are being held, which conduct the analysis of key transborder water pollutants as well sediments in the coastal areas of the Caspian Sea.

There are plans to organize a series of relevant training courses for experts.

The EU's support is directed at drafting and implementing a regional programme for monitoring sea waters, a coordinated action plan in "hot spots" and a priority investment programme.