Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 25
By Umid Niayesh, Saeed Isayev - Trend:
Iran's foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has appointed his deputy for Asia and Pacific affairs, Ebrahim Rahimpour as special envoy o Caspian Sea affairs, Fars news agency reported on Dec. 24.
He replaces Mohammad Mehdi Akhoundzadeh.
The Caspian Sea is the world's largest inland water reservoir not linked with any world ocean. It is unique for preserving various relict flora and fauna, including the world's largest shoal of sturgeon.
New Iranian envoy's duties include negotiations and meetings with representatives of other Caspian states (Azerbaijan, Russia, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan), as well as coordination of ministries and organization responsible for handling Iran's internal issues connected with Caspian sea.
Iran has been issuing statements regarding environmental pollution in the Caspian Sea.
On November 4, 2003, the Framework Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Caspian Sea was signed in Tehran by the littoral states of the Caspian Sea.
The main objective of the convention was the protection of the Caspian environment from all sources of pollution including the protection, preservation, restoration and sustainable and rational use of the biological resources of the Caspian Sea.