Caspian Sea Success Edges Closer

UNEP, acting as the Interim Secretariat for the Framework Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Caspian Sea (the Tehran Convention) organized a preparatory meeting to the second Conference of Parties (‘COP II’). COP II is scheduled to take place in Tehran during November 2008. Peter Taylor attended the preparatory meeting held in Almaty, Kazakhstan, representing OSPRI.

A key purpose of the meeting was to discuss the readiness of the five littoral States (Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia and Turkmenistan) to sign draft Protocols to the Convention at COP II.

One of the Protocols concerns Oil Pollution Incidents (OPI); hence Peter’s attendance on behalf of OSPRI. It is recognised that efforts to improve regional cooperation in this area will benefit the oil spill preparedness of both governments and industry.

OSPRI has been supporting the littoral States, the IMO, UNDP and UNEP in their commitment to develop this Protocol. Signing the OPI Protocol would be a great achievement for the region. The Protocol would provide the legal basis for the making operational the Caspian’s regional plan of cooperation in cases of major oil pollution incidents.

Peter also used his visit to meet with key OSPRI members in Kazakhstan and discuss on-going efforts to create a Tier 2 cooperative, as well as opportunities for OSPRI to support the development of national preparedness.

Drafting has taken dedication through ten meetings