ASHGABAT (TCA) — The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan and the State Enterprise for the Caspian Sea under the President of Turkmenistan jointly with the International Ocean Institute (IOI) are holding an international seminar “The Caspian Sea — Sustainable Development and Management”, in the Avaza national tourism zone at the Turkmen coast of the Caspian Sea. Government experts from Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Turkmenistan, as well as international experts — IOI scientific consultants in the field of maritime economy, politics, management, ecology, law of the sea and other disciplines, are taking part in the event, which will last until March 16, the State News Agency of Turkmenistan reported.
One of the key vectors of the foreign policy strategy of Turkmenistan is the development of friendly relations with neighboring countries. In this regard, particular attention is paid to strengthening fruitful cooperation with the Caspian states in the political, economic, cultural and humanitarian spheres.
An important area of the strategic partnership based on the consolidation of efforts and common responsibility for the future of the Caspian Sea is regular trainings, professional development of specialists whose work is related to the sea — oil and gas sector, hydrometeorology, fisheries, tourism, nature protection, maritime transport, foreign policy departments and others.
This is the main goal of the seminar, which has been held in Avaza for the sixth time in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding and Cooperation signed between the State Enterprise for the Caspian Sea Issues under the President of Turkmenistan and the IOI.
The International Ocean Institute, which was founded more than 45 years ago, is a non-profit organization that enjoys special consultative status with the United Nations. The IOI works to uphold and expand the principle of the common heritage as defined in the United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea.
The Institute closely cooperates with the programs and specialized agencies of the United Nations — the United Nations Environment Programme, the United Nations Development Programme, the World Meteorological Organization, the Food and Agriculture Organization, the UNESCO Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, the International Maritime Organization, and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development.
The program of the current 10-day training seminar includes a wide range of issues directly related to the economic, social and environmental aspects of the development of the Caspian states. Thematically, the course is divided into four modules: “Ocean Governance Structure”, “Financial Mechanisms for Sustainable Water Management”, “Mechanisms for Managing Oceanic Relations” and “The Caspian Sea Management”.
