Sustainable development and region security - Leadership seminar on Caspian Sea and its Deltas Region
 
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Concept Paper

Objective

The objective of the Seminar is to present an independent expert opinion on possible ways to address the current situation in the Caspian Sea and deltas, using experience and lessons drawn from other maritime regions facing similar problems, within the framework provided by relevant international legal instruments. The expert analysis and assessment of existing problems will be based on a comprehensive approach reflecting the fact that conditions in the entire Caspian maritime and deltas region are inter-related and should be considered in a holistic integrated manner; and that most problems have a basin-wide nature.

The overarching goal of governance and natural resource management in the region is understood to be the attainment of sustainable development and regional security (political, economic and environmental) for the entire Caspian Sea basin. This also requires that the issue of equity be included in the analysis and properly addressed.

Approach

The Seminar will have the form of a think-tank expert meeting with participation limited to about 20 independent (i.e. not associated with government agencies) experts, an equal number from the region and from outside.

The experts will be selected so as to provide a first-hand knowledge of the Caspian Sea problems and experience from other regions, where issues similar to those encountered in the Caspian Sea have been and are being successfully addressed. The primary focus of the Seminar will be on specific Caspian Sea issues and problems of geo-political nature, socio-economic development, resource utilization, and environmental protection, as well as on continuing efforts to address these problems.

Individual experts from outside the region will be invited to prepare background papers focusing on how the similar problems have been and are being tackled in other regions. Experts from the region will be invited to collate reference material and data on the situation in the Caspian Sea. The background papers and other relevant documents will be provided to the invited participants in advance in order to ensure that the participants are prepared for a thorough and productive discussion.

The Seminar discussions will be organized around three main themes: socio-economic renewal; social and environmental challenges; status, delimitation and distributive justice. While maintaining a holistic and basin-wide approach, various mechanisms of management and reconciliation, operational within the international legal framework may be considered. In particular, it is expected that the emphasis of the Seminar will be on:

  • the need for a comprehensive legal framework supplemented by protocols for specific areas or socio-economic activities;
  • the assessment of the applicability of existing legal instruments, both regional and global;
  • the need to establish a regional surveillance, compliance verification and enforcement mechanism;
  • the identification of creation of specially protected areas;
  • the need for systematic, integrated observations, considering the "Census of marine life" and Large Marine Ecosystems approach;
  • the need to establish inter-sectoral expert groups to address specific issues or concerns..

Background

The International Ocean Institute has over the years organized series of conferences, leadership seminars and workshops addressing and analyzing: maritime issues and international cooperation, ocean governance and policy; basin-wide co-development and security; role of ocean resources, products and services for economy and sustainable development. A certain focus has been given to the regional cooperation. In conjunction with the establishment of the IOI Operational Centre for the Caspian Sea in Astrakhan, hosted by the Astrakhan State Technical University, the idea of organizing a regional leadership Seminar for the Caspian Sea on basin-wide co-development and security was brought up in consultations with the Founder of IOI, Professor Elisabeth Mann Borgese.

She considered such an effort could be constructive, since the IOI would be able to draw on experiences from other regions as well as to use global perspectives and insights. Seminars of similar nature have recently been organized by the IOI for the Mediterranean region and the Black Sea region.

The IOI was invited to and participated in the International Conference: "The Caspian Sea: Legal Issues" held in Moscow, 26-27 February 2002. This Conference highlighted most of the issues regarding the legal status of the Caspian Sea. During the Conference the IOI representatives took the opportunity to discuss an IOI seminar initiative with several leading experts, and was also given the opportunity to inform the Conference on the possibility of organizing an IOI Seminar of independent experts for the Caspian Sea and offer the cooperation of IOI. This was well received.

At the regional Summit Meetings the Presidents of the Caspian Sea bordering States have identified a number of key problems facing the Caspian Sea that need to be addressed. A summary is given below:

  • Transport system is of special importance as it affects not only the states bordering the Sea, but also all the states through which goods to and from the region are in transit. The transport system is serving all economic sectors and its proper operation and improvement will benefit all, while its breakdown will have very serious consequences. All socio-economic aspects need to be considered, e.g. in analyzing the north-south transport line through the Caspian Sea. Joint or coordinated approach to its development and management may be appropriate.
  • The development of fossil fuel energy sources requires special attention. The Caspian Sea region has very good potential. However, an effective development is complicated by differing legal positions of the coastal states in regard to the issues of delimitation and conditions of exploitation of boundary fields. This hinders economic and other development activities in the region.
  • While a significant increase in oil and gas production in the region can be expected, it is very important that ecologically clean technologies in petroleum operations are introduced without delay and continuously used. The enhanced productivity must be accompanied by a vigorous environmental control and particular attention to the problems of pollution prevention. The ecological problems of the Caspian Sea must be taken into account in any new development.
  • The living resources of the Caspian Sea are of global importance; 70% of world sturgeon fisheries are in the Caspian Sea, and 40% in the Russian (Astrakhan) sector. Although a slight improvement of the ecological situation has been noted in recent years, illegal fishing (poaching) of sturgeon has dramatically increased. Today we may even refer to this poaching as "bio-terrorism". Another problem is related to the introduction of non-indigenous species into the region with the ship ballast waters.
  • Social problems in the region are primarily related to unemployment and inadequate living conditions. It is necessary to generate more working places and employment. Support should be given to initiatives of people aimed at creating small and medium-scale enterprises. Partnerships should be encouraged. There is a strong need to reactivate investment efforts.

In conclusion, there is a motivation for an independent expert analysis of the issues, helping to find alternative approaches to address them.

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