New York - The five countries bordering the Caspian Sea have reaffirmed their strong
commitment to protect its marine environment, according to the United Nations
Environment Programme (UNEP), which welcomed the move as an "important step."

In a news release, the UN agency said that Azerbaijan, Iran, Russia, Kazakhstan
and Turkmenistan had reached a crucial milestone by adopting and signing one
more protocol to the Framework Convention for the Protection of the Marine
Environment of the Caspian Sea, also known as the Tehran Convention: the
Protocol for the Protection of the Caspian Sea against Pollution from Land-based
Sources and Activities (LBSA Protocol).

"The signing of the LBSA Protocol in Moscow is an important step forward in the
process as it addresses one of the major ecological threats to the Caspian
environment and aims to safeguard coasts and waters from the detrimental effect
s of pollution from land-based sources such as agriculture, industry and urban
settlements," UNEP stated.

Ministers and high-level government representatives from the five countries had
met in the Russian capital of Moscow for the Fourth Meeting of the Convention's
Conference of the Parties (COP4) from 10-12 December.

Hosted by the Russian Government, COP4 was also attended by representatives from
the European Union, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the UN
Development Programme (UNDP), in addition to UNEP, as well as other
international observers.

"This remarkable progress follows the 2011 adoption and signing of the Aktau
Protocol on Regional Preparedness, Response and Cooperation in Combating Oil
Pollution Incidents, at COP3 in Kazakhstan," UNEP said.

The UN agency noted that the Caspian environmental process, supported for many
years by the world body and others, led to the signing of the landmark Tehran
Convention in 2003 and its entry into force in August 200
6, and for which UNEP provides the Secretariat.

It added that the legally-binding agreement resulted in increasing cooperation
amongst the five Caspian nations and comes at a crucial time when the Caspian
region is witnessing unprecedented growth in oil and gas exploration,
exploitation and transportation.

In the area of cooperation in addressing common environmental challenges, UNEP
said that COP4 laid the groundwork for implementing a sound environmental
monitoring and reporting programme in the region, providing for harmonized and
regular information and data exchange between the countries.

"Environmental cooperation is an essential basis for the overall economic and
social development of the region, a crucial first step on the road to a green
economy, equitable management of resources, and a sustainable future for all
Caspian states," said UNEP's Executive Director, Achim Steiner, on the progress
achieved by the Caspian nations throughout the years, and in particular at COP4.