Official representatives of Caspian states (Azerbaijan, Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Iran) in Aktau, Kazakhstan, have signed protocol on regional readiness, response and cooperation in case of incidents causing oil pollution.
The protocol was signed as part of the third session of Tehran Convention for the protection of the marine environment of the Caspian Sea. Five Caspian states, according to the protocol, are obliged to respond to all accidents in the Caspian Sea. They also agreed to continue dialogue in this direction.{nl}

The Framework Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Caspian Sea, also known as the "Tehran Convention" named after the city where it was adopted in 2003, is the first legally binding regional agreement signed by all five Caspian littoral States (Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russian Federation and Turkmenistan), laying down the general requirements and the institutional mechanisms for environmental protection in the Caspian region. The need for joint protection and management of the Caspian environment and its resources has been an ongoing issue for the Caspian littoral states
The Tehran Convention serves as an umbrella legal instrument laying down general requirements and institutional mechanisms. The Convention not only aims at protecting the Caspian environment from all sources of pollution but also targets the preservation, restoration and protection of the marine environment of the Caspian Sea.
The Convention includes provisions on sustainable and rational use of the living resources of the Caspian Sea, as well as provisions on environmental impact assessment and environmental monitoring, research and development. Further to the general obligations of the Tehran Convention, the littoral States are required to take all appropriate measures to achieve these objectives individually or jointly and to cooperate with international organizations to that end.

AzerTAc