Azerbaijan, Baku, April 27 / Trend, E. Ostapenko /
A national workshop on improving the legislative and regulatory framework for oil spill prevention and emergency response started in Baku today, the OSCE said.
"Contingency planning is an essential tool to prevent and respond to oil spills incidents and protect the fragile Caspian Sea environment," said Jan Olsson, the head of the Economic and Environmental Unit of the OSCE Office in Baku, in his opening speech.
According to him, the OSCE is prepared to further assist Azerbaijan in this regard by facilitating international co-operation and providing legal and institutional expertise.
The event organized by the OSCE Office in Baku and Azerbaijan's Ministry of Emergency Situations is attended by representatives of agencies working in the oil sector, Azerbaijani private sector representatives, as well as international experts.
Recognizing the devastating economic and environmental impact oil spills could have for the region, Azerbaijan is engaged with other Caspian states to implement new conventions and international agreements to protect the marine environment and improve oil spill preparedness and response mechanisms.
Azerbaijan became a party to the international convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Co-operation in 2004. The Ministry of Emergency Situations has recently been designated by presidential decree as the responsible agency for the implementation of the Convention.