On October 9, the Caspian Environmental Summit was held in the national tourist zone “Awaza” under the chairmanship of President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov. The meeting was attended by President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Masoud Pezeshkian, President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin. The State News Agency of Turkmenistan reported.

Addressing the summit, the President of Turkmenistan noted that ensuring the ecological well-being of the Caspian Sea requires joint efforts by all coastal states. The Head of State put forward the Caspian Environmental Initiative and proposed establishing specialised working groups comprising scientists, experts and representatives of government agencies, as well as holding the first meeting of the group in Azerbaijan in the first half of 2027.

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev stressed that the summit would contribute to strengthening cooperation in addressing the environmental challenges of the Caspian Sea, highlighting its important natural and strategic significance for the countries of the region.

President of Iran Masoud Pezeshkian stated that no single country can address the environmental threats facing the Caspian Sea alone, emphasising the need for common political will, continuous cooperation and coordinated action.

President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev highlighted the Caspian Sea’s role as an important transport and energy hub of Eurasia, noting the special responsibility of coastal states in preserving its ecosystem.

President of Russia Vladimir Putin drew attention to the natural, economic and cultural importance of the Caspian Sea, stressing the significance of comprehensive measures to study water level changes and prevent their negative consequences.

Following the summit, the Decision of the Heads of Caspian States was adopted and the Declaration of the Chairing Side was signed. The meeting was described as an important step towards developing five-party cooperation to ensure the ecological security of the Caspian Sea.