The Caspian Day in Astrakhan
The Caspian Sea Day, one of the main events in the international environmental cooperation of the Caspian region, was celebrated in Astrakhan. On August 10, an international forum was held in the Great Hall of the Astrakhan Oblast Administration, where the delegates from Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and the Russian Federation discussed the role of the Tehran Convention in sustainable development of the region.
Note: The Framework Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Caspian Sea, also known as the Tehran Convention is an international agreement signed by five Caspian states (the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Russian Federation and Turkmenistan) in Tehran (the Islamic Republic of Iran). The purpose of the Tehran Convention, entered into force on August 12, 2006, is “protection of the marine environment of the Caspian Sea from pollution, including protection, conservation, restoration and rational use of bioresources.”
On August 11, thematic sessions and meetings were held at Lukoil Training Centre located in the Village of Ilyinka. Meanwhile, the International Conference “Current challenges in preservation of the Caspian biodiversity and possible ways to overcome them” was held in the conference hall of the Astrakhan Azimut Hotel; and specialists from nature protection agencies, research organisations and educational institutions of the Caspian states partook in it. On the website of the Environmental Management and Protection Service of the Astrakhan Oblast, you can see presentations given at the conference (link). ‘All issues discussed will be reflected in our final documents and resolutions,’ said Natalya Tretyakova, the Head of the Department of International Cooperation, ‘so that all the Caspian countries will be able to use these them.’
Cultural and recreational activities were organized for citizens and guests of Astrakhan. At the exhibition “Caspian – 2017” in the Bratsk Garden, you could see wonderful photographs of the Caspian nature – the Volga delta, fields of blooming lotus, endless sea spaces. And along the embankment of the Volga, there were expositions that told you about the traditions and cultures of the Caspian countries. There were master classes; and everyone could learn the folk crafts there.
Source: the Environmental Management and Protection Service of the Astrakhan Oblast, the Ministry of Economic Development of Astrakhan Oblast