Caspian Sea High-Level Working Group to convene in Azerbaijan for 12th session PHOTO

Azerbaijan is set to host the upcoming 12th session of the High-Level Working Group on the Caspian Sea, a statement by the the Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

The dates of the meeting will be finalized through diplomatic channels, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

The announcement follows the conclusion of the 11th High-Level Working Group meeting, held from September 15 to 17, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan. The gathering brought together official delegations from the five Caspian littoral states: Turkmenistan (led by M.G.Atajanov), Azerbaijan (led by S.A. Sharifov), Iran (led by K.G. Abadi), Kazakhstan (led by Z.A. Amanzholova), and the Russian Federation (led by N.N. Udovichenko).

The discussions primarily focused on technical methodologies for establishing straight baselines in the Caspian Sea—a critical step in delineating national maritime zones in accordance with international and regional legal frameworks. Delegates also conducted a comprehensive review of existing cooperation among the five states and evaluated progress on joint initiatives implemented under the multilateral Caspian format.

Moreover, the participants addressed growing concerns over the ecological and economic implications of the Caspian Sea’s shallowing. In this context, they considered the creation of a dedicated working group to examine the phenomenon, which has emerged as a pressing issue for the region's environment and maritime industries.

By Vafa Guliyeva