1. CASPIAN COUNTRIES' EXPERTS
FAILED TO REACH A CONSENSUS
BAKU, 21 SEPTEMBER, AZER-PRESS. Experts of the five Caspian states could not agree during
their meeting in Astana on the final document concerning the summit postponed on more than
occasions. They decided to meet again, according to Kazakhstan's Foreign Minister Yerlan
Idrisov. 'We did not insist on the document's finalization just then. Another meeting is
likely to happen, during which we shall finalize some other details. The work on the text
is going on,' said Yerlan Idrisov. The special working group for the legal status of the
Caspian Sea comprises the deputy foreign ministers of the five coastal countries; they
finished their work in Astana and passed a communiquÈ on Friday. A press officer at
Kazakhstan's Foreign Office said that the parties arranged for another meeting of the
working group; the dates and the venue are not decided yet, but this meeting can take
place in Moscow. Representatives of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Iran, Russia and Turkmenistan
spent four instead of two days discussing the draft in Astana. Mr. Idrisov says that
Kazakhstan is in no rush. 'The negotiations over the Caspian Sea have lasted for nine
years and we, in particular Kazakhstan, have much patience. Our policy is consequential,
and we trace the progress of these negotiating process,' said Mr. Idrisov. As regards the
summit of the littoral countries, it has been postponed on several occasions, and it
remains unknown when it is going to happen at the long last. Russia proposes to keep in
force the borders set under the international agreements signed by the USSR. Kazakhstan
and Azerbaijan support this point of view. Turkmenistan says there are no disagreements
and offers to give each state a 12-mile coastal zone plus a 35-mile economic interest
zone, whereas the centre of the sea should remain, in the opinion of Turkmenistan, in the
common use. Iran insists that the sea must be divided into equal 20% sections.
2. TRAINING SEMINAR FOR CEP MSGP
was organized on 11-12 September in Astrakhan on initiative and with support of Astrakhan
Regional Administration (Committee of Economic Development and Trade), World Bank and
other agencies involved in realization of MSGP. Deep interest to MSGP taken from the
administration and enterprises is accounted primarily by the fact that most priority
issues addressed are in line with regional environmental priorities, i.e., protection of
transboundary biodiversity and endangered species of the Caspian, environmental safety of
sewage waters and provision with clear drinking water, preventing air, water and soil
pollution from industrial and agricultural activities, agricultural ecology,
environmentally clean and resource-saving technologies. Representatives from the Astrakhan
region, Dagestan and Kalmykia, industrial, agricultural, fisheries and housing and
communal services took part in the work of the seminar. On the second day, the Lead
Consultant Vassily B. Rodionov instructed the proponents individually. “There are real
perspectives for the mutual work with World Bank on the large investment projects in the
Astrakhan region” stated K.I. Rogachev, Deputy Chairman of the Committee for Economic
Development and Trade. Source: PPA Russia
1. AZERI PRESIDENT'S VISIT TO
IRAN IS POSTPONED BAKU, 17 SEPTEMBER, AZER-PRESS.
As agreed between the governments of Azerbaijan and the Islamic Republic of Iran,
President Heydar Aliyev's visit to Tehran previously scheduled for 17-19 September has
been postponed. The presidential press service informs that the visit's new dates will be
agreed via diplomatic channels. Apparently, the president's visit, which actually had been
postponed more than once before, is this time shelved owing to jet-bombing in Washington
and New York, and the Iranian-US revenge consultations that followed. Heydar Aliyev's
visit to Iran was arranged for when the deputy minister of foreign affairs of Iran came to
Baku at the end of August. Heydar Aliyev plans to discuss the status of the Caspian Sea as
the topmost issue during his trip to Tehran. Iran's claims to the Alov-Araz-Sharg block of
perspective structures in South Caspian under operation of BP in accordance with the
production sharing agreement signed with Azerbaijan led to the incident at the end of
July: an Iranian warship approached Azerbaijan's marine acquisition vessel Geophysic-3 and
drove it out of the
contract area. Source: Azer-Press
2. AN AZERI SCIENTIST OFFERS TO
ELABORATE A FISH ECONOMY CONCEPTION BAKU, 17 SEPTEMBER, AZER-PRESS.
The Azeri biologist Adil Orujev comes up with the initiative of developing short and
long-term national fish economy conceptions of Azerbaijan; the initiative is put forward
to the government. 'This will be an extensive document reflecting concrete measures for
improving the republic's fish-related industries and restoration of some disappearing fish
species,' Mr. Orujev explained. In particular, his proposal is concerned with the
currently reducing population of the Caspian salmon. 'This problem is so acute that this
species may disappear altogether very soon,' Mr. Orujev noted. According to him, there
were no producing fish for Azerbaijan's fisheries for three years on end. Uncontrolled
fishing of specifically the Caspian salmon, by poachers as well as by state organizations,
caused the salmon population's reduction. The Caspian salmon is very popular at world
markets for its taste and rate of growing. According to Mr. Orujev, the population can
still be restored: there must be a trans-border programme for this purpose, which must
envisage restoration of the breeding areas and creation of a genetic fund. Also, some
percentage of the fishing licensing fees and of the money of the state environmental fund
can be spent on re-creating the fish resources of the country. The critical situation with
the Caspian salmon in Russian waters caused activation of the fisheries' work. In our
case, specialists offer to use breeding funds and eliminate the problem of poaching.
Special pond management programmes can be elaborated with the aid of local
non-governmental as well as international organizations. First of all, the food basis must
be maintained by building a large fodder factory in Azerbaijan. 'Azerbaijan still has
appropriate specialists and institutions to handle the problem and elaborate food
methodologies - the food for the salmon can be bred in ponds, lakes, water reservoirs and
the warm water produced by the power stations,' says Mr. Orujev. As for financial sources,
he pointed at the money that Azerbaijan is getting for preservation for biological
diversity, and for the strategy of setting up the national preserve of Shahdag. Source: PPA Azerbaijan
1. Draft of CCTBM final document
coordinated Astana, September 10, 2001. (CNA)
The text of the draft of the final document is coordinated during the session of senior
officials of state-members of CCTBM (Conference for Cooperation and Trust Building
Measures), the Kazakh Foreign Ministry reported today. The signing of the draft of the
final document is planned on November 8-10, 2001 in Alma-Ata. The main paragraphs of the
draft including 50 items are disarmament, measures of trust in the region, new and
traditional threatens and perspectives of creating new political international regional
institute of security. The work on the final document of CCTBM began after the meeting of
Foreign Ministers of CCTBM state-members in September 1999. During the last week the
experts worked on the documents in Alma-Ata. Source: http://www.caspian.ru/cgi/eng/article.cgi?id=1106
2. Chevron Company merges with
Texaco. Astana, September 10, 2001. (CNA)
The US Federal Commission for trade approved merging Chevron and Texaco companies, the
official announcement of Chevron said. After integration ChevronTexaco Company will became
the third largest oil and gas producer in the States. The total market cost of
ChevronTexaco enterprises will amount at over USD 100 billion, the assets cost – USD 83
billion. Pure oil supply totals 11.5 billion barrels of oil equivalent (BOE), everyday
extraction is 2.7 BOE. Chevron is the largest private stockholder (15% shares) of the
Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC), which finances 30% of the project cost. The company
also possesses 50% shares of Tengizchevroil - soon the largest CPC client. Source: http://www.caspian.ru/cgi/eng/article.cgi?id=1101
3. Kazakhstan-Chinese bilateral
relations to be examined in Alma-Ata. Alma-Ata, September 10, 2001. (CNA)
The International round table on bilateral relations of Kazakhstan and China will take
place in Alma-Ata on Tuesday, September 11. A CNA correspondent was informed in Kazakh
Institute of strategic researches under the state president that from the Chinese side the
delegation of Shankhay Institute of international researches, which includes the deputy of
the director of the Institute Van Syoshu and the head of the department of Russia and
Central Asia Chjao Huashen, will participate in the meeting. Kazakhstan will be presented
by scientists from the Institute of strategic researches headed the director Maulen
Ashimbayev. Source: http://www.caspian.ru/cgi/eng/article.cgi?id=1100
1. 16 September - FORESTRY
WORKERS’ HOLIDAY
Forests are among the most important environmental components, the vast natural
laboratories for accumulation of oxygen and air purification, providing favorable
climatic, hydrological and soil conditions. The Astrakhan region is the least wooded
oblast’ in Russian Federation; here forests are restricted to the Volga delta, situated
on flood-lands, along the streams and on islands. Hence, only
measures aimed to conservation and extension of forest areas are permitted and executed.
Due to activities of the State forest-protection services the forest-covered area
increased 13,100 ha in the last three years; no conflagrations happened this year.
N. Voronin, Head of Committee for Natural resources of Astrakhan region Source: “Volga” newspaper
2. AUTUMN FISHING SEASON started
on September 6, in the Astrakhan region. 9 thousand tons of bony fish (bream, wild carp,
pike, pike-perch, etc.) are expected to be harvested in the fall. Following CITES
recommendations, sturgeon fishing is prohibited and fishermen are requested to release
captured fish into the water. Unlike the previous/spring season, more strict fishing
regulations are introduced; the number of fisheries enterprises and organizations
permitted for fishing reduced from 162 to 105 – that is by 1/3. Source: “Komsomolets Kaspiya”
3. AUTUMN FOWLING SEASON in
the Astrakhan region was opened on September 8. The total permissible number per one
hunting at game preserve is 10 specimens (no more than 3 coots) in September, up to 20
specimens in October and November. The hunting license price increased considerably to 0.6
minimal salary (60 RUR). Environmental expertise executed by experts from Committee for
Environmental resources assessed population growth coefficients of game animals at the
territory of the region according to which permissible exclusion is ratified. No
restrictions are laid to shooting wolves and jackals, their number does not reach safe
level so far. Among the other game animals in the Astrakhan region are foxes, ermines,
muskrats, wild boars and deer (hunting quota for the latter is the most restricted – up
to 10% of population number) Source: “Volga” newspaper
4. INTERNET CENTER FOR ECOLOGICAL
INFORMATION was established September 11, in Astrakhan regional scientific
library within the framework of joint project of ISAR and Astrakhan library. The Center
will render free Internet access for the local ecoNGOs, disseminate
information on ISAR and other related Caspian programmes, monitor environmental
information from Astrakhan mass media. The other international programmes and projects
acting in the region were presented at the opening meeting, - Caspian Environment
Programme (PPA Russia), IOI-Caspian Sea, Caspian Floating University. Contact information: 14 Trusova St., Astrakhan, 414000 Russia. E-mail: ecoastra@mail.ru
5. SAFEGUARD ASTRAKHAN ILMENS (lakes)
was requested by the public: Liman’s resident, V. Ryaplov applied to the Astrakhan
Inter-District Office of Public Prosecutor for Environmental Protection to check on the
status of the ilmen Limanskiy situated just in the center of the settlement. Examination
was executed together with experts from Committee for Environmental Resources of the
Astrakhan region and State Center for sanitary and epidemiological inspection, Liman
District. In order to improve negative impacts of industrial activities, recommendations
to adopt decisions/programme aimed to sanitation of the ilmen were directed to the local
administration. Certain suggestions on the issue were forwarded to the Governor Anatoly
Guzhvin.
O. Zavadina, Senior Assistant to the Astrakhan Inter-District Prosecutor for Environmental
Protection Source: “Volga” newspaper
1. New gas field discovered in Turkmenistan
Ashkhabad, September 10, 2001. (CNA).
New gas field on Tarymgaya area was recently discovered by Turkmenburgas specialists in
Turkmenistan. A source in Turkmen Ministry of oil and gas industry informed CNA that the
day volume of 3,657-meter deep well totals 550,000 cubic meters of gas. Tarymgaya is one
of the most perspective gas fields in Turkmenistan. It is situated near export trunk gas
pipelines and pumping stations, so that will help transporting fuel without much expenses.
Source: http://www.caspian.ru/cgi/eng/article.cgi?id=1103
2. Turkmenistan ready to open its corridors for
US to render humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan. Ashkhabad, September 25,
2001. (CNA).
Turkmenistan government is ready to provide US its land and air spaces for delivery of
humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan. Turkmenistan president Saparmurad Niyazov reported
during the speech on national TV on Monday, that the US Secretary of State Collin Powell
addressed him with such request during their phone talk. At the same time president
Niyazov refuted some mass media reporting that he has already agreed to open the land and
the air space for US antiterrorist operations. In particular, he stated that according to
hands-off policy pursued by Turkmenistan, "there wont be any military forces on the
territory of republic or military planes on the air space". According to Niyazov,
during his conversation with Russia President Vladimir Putin he reported that Turkmenian
government, realizing plight state of Afghan people, "is ready to render humanitarian
assistance and to transport humanitarian goods from the world community through Turkmen
territories". Russia President supported this position, Turkmen President concluded. Source: http://www.caspian.ru/cgi/eng/article.cgi?id=1539
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