BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 4. A five-party meeting of representatives of Caspian littoral states’ Prosecutor General’s Offices gets underway in Baku, Trend reports.
Azerbaijan’s Prosecutor General Kamran Aliyev, Deputy Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Umayra Taghiyeva, Iran's Deputy Attorney General for Public Rights Division Gholam-Abbas Torki, Deputy Prosecutor General of Kazakhstan Zhandos Umiraliev, Deputy Prosecutor General of Russia Petr Gorodov, and high-ranking officials of the Prosecutor General’s Offices of Azerbaijan and other Caspian littoral states are attending the meeting.
At the meeting, Azerbaijani Prosecutor General Kamran Aliyev highlighted that the Prosecutor General's Office of Azerbaijan will host a session focused on mobilizing law enforcement agencies to combat climate change. He emphasized that the contemporary era has heightened the urgency of global environmental issues.
"The Caspian Sea holds significant historical value for our nations and has contributed to our development over time. Safeguarding its nature and biodiversity for future generations is our ethical responsibility. I believe that today's discussions will prove beneficial for environmental protection in our region, particularly in reinforcing efforts to combat crime, and will foster deeper collaboration in this regard," he said.
Kamran Aliyev emphasized that Armenia has committed environmental crimes in the territories of Azerbaijan liberated from occupation.
He said that the General Prosecutor's Office has set up an investigation group to look into these crimes.
"The international community will receive updates on the legal repercussions of these crimes, and appropriate legal action will be pursued following both national and international laws. Concerning environmental crimes, requests for mutual legal assistance have been forwarded to law enforcement agencies in other nations. We maintain intensive relations with them. After the results are compiled, the investigation materials will be used in international courts," Aliyev added.
During the meeting, Umayra Taghiyeva highlighted that environmental protection of the Caspian Sea and the efficient utilization of its natural resources are prioritized within the national policies of the Caspian littoral countries.
Within the framework of the meeting, Umaira Taghiyeva noted that the issues of environmental protection of the Caspian Sea and effective use of natural resources are among the priority directions of the national policy of the Caspian littoral countries.
"The Caspian Sea stands as a unique aquatic ecosystem on our planet, renowned for its abundant natural resources, which hold global significance and value for the peoples of the littoral states. Presently, the Caspian region grapples with various challenges stemming from unresolved environmental issues. Alongside anthropogenic impacts such as the depletion of bio-resources and marine pollution, the long-term decline in sea levels due to climate change exacerbates the degradation of marine ecosystems," she said.
The deputy minister further emphasized Azerbaijan's efforts to mitigate the adverse effects on the Caspian Sea's environment, highlighting the establishment of a network of specially protected natural areas. Additionally, Azerbaijan suggests coordinating and executing joint environmental monitoring initiatives in the Caspian Sea.
Gholam-Abbas Torki stressed the importance of preserving the biodiversity of the Caspian Sea. He also highlighted the imperative of establishing management mechanisms at the national level to safeguard the Caspian Sea, emphasizing the necessity for rigorous coordination in this endeavor.
Zhandos Umiraliev remarked that the Caspian Sea represents a vast reservoir of natural riches and urged for the collective integration of expertise to safeguard its ecosystem.
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