Russia proposing to set up common centre to monitor Caspian environment

Russia is proposing to set up a common independent centre to monitor Caspian environment, Viktor Kalyuzhny, special representative of the Russian president for Caspian issues and Deputy Foreign Minister, announced Monday on air of Ekho Moscvy radio channel.

At present a number of Caspian states speak out for the monitoring of aquatic environment on the basis of "national centres". Kalyuzhny admitted that a framework agreement on Caspian environmental protection might be signed as soon as this November. According to the official, the agreement is "90% ready".

The latest session of a task force to work out a legal status for the Caspian Sea was held in Moscow on July 22nd-24th. It was attended by representatives of the 5 Caspian states: Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia and Turkmenistan. The next session of the task force has been scheduled for September.