Rashid Ismailov: Russia-Azerbaijan green diplomacy is bearing fruit
© Photo: Press-service of the Russian Ecological Society
Today, in the Stavropol region, at the Minvodyexpo exhibition center, the 12th Russian-Azerbaijani Forum opened, bringing together over 700 participants. The forum is chaired by Deputy Prime Ministers Alexey Overchuk and Shahin Mustafayev. In this article, we share what participants discussed within the framework of the environmental agenda.
Vladimir Putin sent a greeting to the participants. He called regional cooperation an important component of the Russian-Azerbaijani strategic partnership and alliance.
”Such cooperation makes a great contribution to strengthening trust and mutual understanding between our peoples, expands opportunities for promoting mutually beneficial trade, investment and humanitarian ties, and creates conditions for improving the well-being of citizens of both countries,”
- the President of Russia said.
Today, at the forum, promoting environmental dialogue on the eve of the 29th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) that will take place in Baku was discussed. Chairman of the Russian Ecological Society Rashid Ismailov told Vestnik Kavkaza about the environmental topics of the forum.
-What did environmentalists discuss in Mineralnye Vody?
-It was a very heartful meeting. Many participants gathered from both the Azerbaijani and the Russian side. Experts arrived not only from the Stavropol Territory, but from other regions as well; there were experts at the federal level. We managed to achieve a common understanding of the problems and their solutions.
-What specific issues were discussed?
1. The issue of developing a common scenario for climate change in the Caspian Sea and joint adaptation measures.
2. The current issue of increasing the volume of supplies of organic products between the Russian and Azerbaijani regions.
3. We drew attention to the need to harmonize the regulatory framework for environmental parameters of the Caspian Sea within the framework of the development of the Tehran Convention. This measure could bring us together and increase the efficiency of monitoring and the environmental safety of the Caspian Sea.
4. The non-governmental initiative “Caspian Green Standard” is also related to the development of the Tehran Convention. It is aimed at drawing attention to the problems of the Caspian Sea, in particular, increasing the environmental responsibility of businesses that operate in the Caspian Sea, both on the water and in coastal areas.
These four directions were supported by all participants.
- That is, are the Caspian issues mainly discussed?
- Not only. We examined the practice of environmental education and ecological tourism in natural areas. The relevance of environmental youth policy is understood by both sides. In this direction, we will bring our positions closer together. Soon I am going to Baku, where an agreement on cooperation with Azerbaijani NGOs in this direction will probably be concluded. Thus, Russia-Azerbaijan green diplomacy is already bearing fruit.
