Vladimir Putin backs Caspian environmental summit initiative

Vladimir Putin described the Caspian environmental summit as a timely and useful initiative. The meeting took place on October 9 in Turkmenistan's Avaza tourism zone.

The Russian president stressed the Caspian Sea's natural, economic, transport and cultural significance to the region's countries. He supported Turkmenistan's proposal to hold the environmental meeting, RIA Novosti reported.

Leaders from the five Caspian states attended: Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan and Russia. Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov chaired the summit.

According to Turkmen authorities, falling Caspian water levels were a principal subject. Berdimuhamedov proposed turning the summit into a permanent cooperation platform. He called for coordinated government and agency action based on documents governing the Caspian Sea's legal status and protecting its marine environment.