Turkmenistan backs Azerbaijan's initiative to establish expert group on Caspian Sea, says FM

Turkmenistan expresses support for Azerbaijan's initiative to establish a five-party expert group on the Caspian Sea.

Deputy Chairman of Turkmenistan’s Cabinet of Ministers, Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov made the statement during the meeting of foreign ministers of the Caspian littoral states in Moscow, according to Trend.

"We consider it expedient to involve scientific forces in its work, to form discussion platforms, possibly in the format of conferences, roundtables and similar events. It is especially important to involve in this process researchers and specialists dealing with water management issues in the Caspian basin," he said.

Meredov noted that the decline in the Caspian Sea level is one of the most urgent problems requiring close study and attention.

He added that in the last 25 years alone, the sea level has dropped by almost two metres, which is a worrying figure reflecting a negative trend.

Meanwhile, referring to the issues of improving the situation, the minister emphasised that a detailed study of such a phenomenon as a decrease in the volume of water in the Caspian Sea will make it possible to understand its nature and, consequently, to develop measures to prevent and mitigate its consequences.

"If this requires additional legal instruments, Turkmenistan is ready to draft a relevant five-party document for further discussion with riparian states," Meredov said.