On August 12, 2025, the international scientific-practical conference titled “The Caspian – Sea of Friendship and Peace” was held in the "Avaza" National Tourism Zone of Turkmenistan.

The event was attended by the Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, Rashid Meredov, as well as representatives from the Caspian littoral states — Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Iran, Kazakhstan, and Russia. Delegates from international organizations such as the United Nations, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the European Union, and the OSCE were also present. Experts from the International Maritime Law Institute, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the World Bank participated via videoconference. Azerbaijan was represented by Ambassador Gismat Gozalov.

The conference focused on the implementation of the Framework Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Caspian Sea (Tehran Convention), the ornithological significance of the Caspian waters, and the role of Turkmenistan’s Caspian State Nature Reserve in preserving the region’s biodiversity. Participants also discussed compliance with environmental standards at the Turkmenbashi International Seaport and prospects for the development of ecotourism in the Avaza National Tourism Zone. Additionally, the role of the Caspian Sea in strengthening good neighborly relations among the littoral states and prospects for hydrometeorological cooperation were highlighted.

In his address, Ambassador Gismat Gozalov emphasized that friendly and neighborly relations, as well as bilateral and multilateral cooperation among the Caspian states, are crucial for ensuring stability and security in the region.

The ambassador noted that the Caspian Sea is an integral part of many international and regional projects aimed at improving the welfare of the region’s peoples. In this context, he welcomed the Third Caspian Economic Forum held in Tehran in February of this year. He stressed Azerbaijan’s strong support for preserving the Caspian as a space of peace, harmony, good neighborliness, and constructive international cooperation. He also referred to the signing of the Aktau Convention in 2018 as a milestone event.

Ambassador Gozalov highlighted the growing interaction among littoral states through summits at the level of heads of state, economic forums of heads of government, meetings of foreign ministers, and high-level working groups. He underlined the importance of expanding cooperation in transport across the Caspian for enhancing trade and benefiting the wider Eurasian region. He noted that Azerbaijan, through its national fleet, the Baku International Sea Port, the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, and other strategic projects, has become a key transit and logistics hub in the region. He emphasized that the development of mutually beneficial economic cooperation, improvement of the investment climate, establishment of reliable and secure communication channels, and the promotion of high-yield and environmentally friendly technologies are among the main priorities for the coastal states.

The ambassador also addressed the environmental challenges of the Caspian Sea. Referring to the effects of climate change, global warming, and environmental pollution in the region, Gozalov recalled that the decline in the sea’s water level was a key topic at the Sixth Caspian Summit held in Ashgabat in 2022. He noted that, upon Azerbaijan’s initiative, a working group of experts had been established and preparations were underway for its first meeting to be held in Baku. Furthermore, he stressed that environmental issues were discussed at the COP29 side event titled “Discovering the Caspian: Safeguarding Coastal Resilience and Biodiversity Under Climate Change Through the Tehran Convention”, and that cooperation among littoral countries was being strengthened.

In conclusion, Ambassador Gismat Gozalov expressed his gratitude to the leadership of brotherly Turkmenistan for organizing a high-level meeting of coastal states' government representatives within the framework of the LLDC Conference to address the challenges of the Caspian Sea’s declining water levels and related environmental problems. He expressed confidence that joint efforts would contribute to the protection of the sea.