CEP Bulletin
http://www.caspianenvironment.org/newsite/EBult/2005/Feb.asp
FEB 2005
No. CEP-B-05/2
Home
Our Programme Since We Last Met:
CEP Announces Fifth Round of MSGP
The Matched Small Grants Programme (MSGP) finances small scale projects that focus on the key
environmental problems in the Caspian Region through practical and concrete measures. Grants
are from USD 5,000 to 50,000. At least 100% matching of the grant amount is mandatory. Legal
entities such as government agencies, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), private
companies and firms based in the Caspian region ( Azerbaijan , I.R. Iran, Kazakhstan , Russia and
Turkmenistan ) are eligible to apply for MSGP. Proposals from local governments and
municipalities are encouraged. Applicants from Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) in
partnership with government or private sector are also eligible. Joint applications by any of the
eligible entities are also permitted. For further information, please visit the CEP website
www.caspianenvironment.org , or contact the Programme Coordination Unit (PCU) PCU/MSGP
office in Tehran , or the Matched Grants and Public Participation Advisors, MPPAs , in the Caspian
countries. Applicants are highly encouraged to submit a concept paper to the MSGP team for
review and guidance before preparation of the Full Application . The deadline for submission of the
Concept Paper for the fifth round is APRIL 30, 2005 . The deadline for submission of the full
application is AUGUST 15, 2005 .
CEP Announces Second Round of MEG
Micro Environment Grants (MEG) Programme aims to finance small-scale projects with a real
impact to address urgent environmental problem through raising public awareness, knowledge and
understanding of the environmental problems facing the Caspian Sea . Projects in the Caspian
Region of Azerbaijan , I.R. Iran , Kazakhstan , Russia , and Turkmenistan will be supported by
MEG. Grants may range from USD 500 to USD 3,000. Other funds from the applicant and/or other
partners could also be used to implement the project; however it is not mandatory. Any group of
people who has the capacity to raise public awareness or carry out small scale project with a real
impact is eligible. This includes NGOs, schools, community groups, specialist groups, associations,
trade unions and others. For further information, please visit the CEP website
www.caspianenvironment.org , or contact the PCU/MSGP office in Tehran , or the Matched Grants
and Public Participation Advisors, MPPAs, in the Caspian countries. The deadline for submission of
the MEG Full Application is APRIL 15, 2005 . .
LBS Protocol Meeting, Ashgabat, 24-25 January 2005
The First Land Based Sources of pollution (LBS) Protocol Meeting was held in Ashgabat on 24th
-25th of January 2005. In this meeting, the technical scope of a LBS Protocol to the Framework
Caspian Convention was discussed. The representatives of the five Caspian littoral countries
participated in this gathering that was facilitated by the UNEP/ROE as the Interim Secretariat for the
countries. During two days of intensive interaction, the experts from the Caspian littoral countries,
together with specialists from international organizations discussed modalities of a protocol to
prevent the pollution of Caspian from land-based sources. Ministry of Nature Protection of
Turkmenistan and the UN Coordinator's office in Ashgabat were co-hosts of the event.
Representatives of all the Caspian states Russia , Azerbaijan , I.R. Iran, Turkmenistan and
Kazakhstan expressed full support to the proposals tabled by UNEP. They also agreed to continue
the dialogue for finalization of the protocol in subsequent meetings. The framework convention for
protection of marine environment of Caspian, which was approved by the Caspian states in
November 2003 in Tehran , calls for the development of several protocols including a protocol on
land-based sources of pollution.
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Caspian Legal Status Meeting, Ashgabat, 28-29 January 2005
January 30 th , 2005 (News Central Asia): The 16th meeting of Special working group at the level of
deputy ministers of Caspian littoral states for drafting of Convention on Caspian legal status was
held in Ashgabat on 28-29 January 2005. Khoshgeldy Babayev, Head of Turkmen delegation and
the chairman of state organization on Caspian issues at President of Turkmenistan, presided over
the meeting. Heads of delegations from Azerbaijan , Khalaf Khalafov, Islamic Republic of Iran,
Mehdi Safari, Republic of Kazakhstan , Rapil Joshybayev , Russian Federation , Igor Yusufov and
Turkmenistan , Khoshegldy Babayev participated in the meeting. In the course of meeting,
conducted in the spirit of constructivism and mutual understanding, the Heads of delegations
expounded the positions of Caspian littoral states on key issues of legal status and different
aspects of cooperation on Caspian. The parties embarked on article-by-article discussion of draft
convention on Caspian legal status, achieved some results and agreed to continue the work on
settlement of issues demanding further decision. The next session (17th meeting the parties) will be
conducted in Tehran . The date of meeting will be agreed through diplomatic channels.
RSE Mission in Tehran , 22nd 27th February 2005
The representative of the Religion, Science and Environment, Ms. Maria Becket, met Iranian high
official authorities including Dr. Ebtekar, the Vice President and the Head of the Department of the
Environment, as well as prominent Iranian academia and religious figures during this visit to discuss
the RSE symposium, following the first regional meeting of June 2004 Baku . The RSE
Symposium, "The Link between Great Civilisations", is tentatively scheduled for June 2005 in the
Caspian Sea under the patronage of HAH The Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and H.E. Mr.
Kofi A. Annan, the Secretary General of the United Nations. The participants of the RSE
Symposium will be around two hundreds of religious leaders, scientists, theologians,
environmentalists, policy-makers and media. The symposium will call attention to the vitality of the
Caspian region's historical and cultural heritage. It will also provide an opportunity to encourage
understanding and dialogue between the Islamic and the Christian worlds and highlight the acute
environmental challenges facing the Caspian Sea . For further information please visit RSE
website, http://www.rsesymposia.org/rse/mission.htm .
Upcommings:
2nd Pollution Regional Advisory Group Meeting, Tehran , 6 th - 7 th February 2005
The second meeting of the Interim Caspian Pollution Regional Advisory Group (PRAG) will be held
in Tehran on February 6 th -7 th , 2005. The main objectives of the meeting are to discuss the
assessment of the impact of key transboundary contaminants in water and sediments in the
Caspian Sea and to develop a work plan for further surveys of sediments and water of the Caspian
Sea by conducting of a Scientific Sea Cruise in summer 2005
RSE Meeting, Istanbul , 11 th -13 th February 2005
Religion, Science and Environment (RSE) will meet the representatives of the Caspian countries as
well as the pertinent international organizations in Istanbul on 11 th 13 th Febrauary 2005. The
meeting aims to plan for organizing a symposium on a ship sailing round the Caspian Sea . In this
water-borne conference, religious leaders, scientists, ecologists, policy-makers and media will
participate to work together to help save the environment. This voyage, tentatively scheduled for
June or July 2005, is being jointly supported by the Ecumenical Patriarch of the Christian Orthodox
Church and Mr. Kofi Annan, the UN Secretary-General. For further information please visit RSE
website, http://www.rsesymposia.org/rse/mission.htm .
Biomarkers Meeting, Baku , 22 nd - 24 th February 2005
The Workshop on Application of Biomarker Technique in Environmental Monitoring and Management will be held in Baku
on 22nd-24th February 2005. The objectives of the workshop is to discuss the biological-effect measurements as
environmental diagnostic methods, biomarkers used in Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs), adaptation of
biomarkers to Caspian species and validation of biomarker responses, Environmental Risk Assessment (ERA) in
connection with offshore studies, and the role of biomarkers in a sustainable management of the marine environment.
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PPS Regional Meeting, Baku , 24 th -25 th February 2005
A two days Public Participation Strategy workshop will be organized on 24-25 February 2005 in
Baku . The PPS is being produced in line with the requirement of the CEP-SAP Project Document
to assist the Caspian countries as a voluntary guideline in planning and coordinating Caspian
related public participation activities. During the workshop the PPS document will be shared with the
relevant stakeholders, the views and ideas will be obtained and the document will be finalized for
implementation
General NEWS:
Migratory Birds Flock to Gilan
January 1 st , 2005 (Iran Daily): Huge flocks of graylag geese have entered
Anzali Wetland and the Sakaleh wildlife sanctuary, in Caspian province of Gilan
, with the start of the cold season. Director General of Gilan Department of
Environment, Shaban- Ali Nezami made the remark, adding that pelicans are
also arriving in local shelters gradually. He said the number of species of
migratory seabirds including common shelducks and Eurasian wigeons is also
increasing in the region. Nezami cited expert reports based on which close to
3,000 graylag geese had already been sighted at the Sakaleh shelter, with
more entering the site gradually. He hailed the environmental officers for their
round-the-clock patrols to ensure security in the area and said, "The birds have
landed in exactly the same shelters considered for them which indicate the high
level of security governing the area." According to Nezami, the number of
migratory geese which have longer necks compared to ducks is expected to
increase with a new wave of cold weather. Nezami said: there are four species
of these geese including lesser and greater white-fronted, graylag and
red-breasted geese. "The lesser white-fronted and graylag geese are the only
species sighted in Gilan," he mentioned. "Over the past two decades,
red-breasted goose, a rare species, has changed its migration route trying to
bypass Gilan due to excessive hunting in the province." He noted that a small
number of the wild fowls are sometimes sighted in Dasht-e Moghan, MianKaleh
and Khuzestan Province . He stated that common and ruddy shelducks have
been migrating to Gilan regularly during the past several years.
I. R. Iran, Largest Caspian Caviar Exporter
January 2nd, 2005 (Azer Tag): According the Iranian IRNA news agency, Iran is the largest caviar
exporter in the Caspian basin with 59.9 tons of annual production. Head of the Iranian Fishing
company, Luftulla Saidi, said: "I.R. Iran is expected to found the caviar-producing company in the
mid-2005 to prevent illegal manufacturing of the product and protect the Caspian environment.
Among the Caspian caviar exporters, Russia ranks second with 20.7 tons followed by Kazakhstan
and Azerbaijan with 14 and 6 tons of annual production, respectively.
Reduction in Spawning of Various Fish Species in Mazandaran Rivers
January 4 th , 2005 (Iran Newspaper): According to the experts of the Department of the
Environment Office in Mazandaran Province , lack of adequate oxygen in rivers due to the
discharge of urban and industrial wastes and agricultural pesticides has reduced the migration and
spawning of various fish species in Mazandaran rivers. The adverse effects of deforestation, heavy
sedimentation of the riverbeds due to the discharge of industrial wastes, chemical materials, oil
byproducts and pesticides as well as the introduction of a dangerous new invasive species called
"Mnemiopsis Leidyi" have disturbed the natural trend of migration and spawning in Caspian rivers.
This is one of the reasons for promotion of ever-increasing artificial breeding of fish species by the
Caspian littoral countries. Dr. Abbas Esmaeili, the Research Deputy of Natural Resources College
of Tarbiat Modares University, argued that without the preservation of rivers and their continual
clean up, the protection of the Caspian environment is impossible. He announced that a project for
the identification of pollution levels in the Caspian Sea has commenced in 2004 with the support of
the World Bank.
Kazakhstan will Establish a Military Base in Caspian Region
January 5 th 2005 (Iran Newspaper): According to Baku based Shargh Newspaper , Kazakhstan is
planning to establish a military base on the Caspian coast with the aid of the Russian Federation .
The Defense Minister of Kazakhstan announced that Astana will undertake this endeavor as a sign
of friendship and peaceful coexistence of the Caspian littoral states by providing security to the
region. He added that Kazakhstan is ready to jointly cooperate with other Caspian states in
enhancement of security and safety of the region. Russian Federation is planning to provide
technical assistance to Kazakhstan through the establishment of a training center for the Kazakh
naval force.
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Occurrence of Tsunami in Caspian
January 15th, 2005 (Azer Tag): Director of Scientific Research Institute of Hydrometeorology under
the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan, Professor Rza Mahmudov said that
occurrence of tsunami on the Caspian Sea is unreal. However, according to the Russian news
agency "Novosti", few Iranian experts commented that occurrence of tsunami on the Caspian Sea
is possible similar to the earthquake in the Indian Ocean with displacement of layers of the earth's
crust. Professor Rza Mahmudov, called such comments "hasty" and noted that occurrence of
Caspian Sea 's strong waves is primarily related to the wind regime. Periodically, waves are
observed at the center of Caspian Sea with heights of up to 9 meters, but their influence on the
coastal zone is insignificant. The highest waves on the Caspian Sea with the height of 10 meters
were observed in 1957 on the Oil Rocks.
Khatami, Aliyev Favor Continuation Of Caspian Talks
Tehran , 26 January 2005 (Iran Daily): President Mohammad
Khatami and Azerbaijan 's President Ilham Aliyev on
Wednesday stressed continuation of talks to determine the legal
regime of the Caspian Sea . Talking to reporters after signing
10 documents on expansion of bilateral cooperation, Khatami
said negotiations with regard to the legal regime of the sea are
underway in a friendly atmosphere and with understanding,
IRNA reported. "The (main) issue is that this valuable sea
belongs to the five littoral states which will benefit from its
resources by safeguarding this god-given asset," he said. He
noted that economic issues were on top of the agenda of
bilateral talks between Iran and Azerbaijan , saying the two
countries will make efforts to begin broad cooperation while
pursuing trade ties. Khatami also pointed to a memorandum of
understanding signed between the two states on Wednesday on
expansion of railroad cooperation and the linking of the North to
the Persian Gulf and Oman Sea via Iran and Azerbaijan as an
important regional development. Aliyev said mutual relations
between the two countries would witness important and positive
developments through the economic, political and cultural
agreements reached during his Tehran visit." Azerbaijan 's
foreign policy attaches importance to consolidation of ties with
Iran ," he said. The Azeri president added that ties between the
two countries have entered a new phase, noting that talks on
the legal regime of the Caspian Sea would be continued in the
future.
Turkmenistan Favors Dividing of Caspian Bed under International Law of Sea
Ashgabat, 28 January 2005 (News Central Asia): In the clearest statement to date on its position,
Turkmenistan has demanded that Caspian bed should be divided between Azerbaijan and
Turkmenistan on the principles laid down in the International Law of Sea 1982.The latest statement
issued by the Turkmen government says, "Turkmenistan has always supported the principle of
median line according to international norms and laws. The position of Turkmenistan , as
maintained during the Turkmen-Azeri negotiations on division of the Caspian bed between
Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan , is based on the principle of equidistant line according to the UN
convention on sea rights 1982. Therefore, the extent of coastal line, its general direction, and also
geographical, geological and geomorphologic factors and structure of the continental shelf should
be taken into account [for dividing the Caspian bed]," the statement explains. Pointing out the
reasons for difference with Azerbaijan , the statement says, "However, Azerbaijan does not take
into account the conventional international criteria for drawing the median line, in particular, the
parameters for determining the coastal line which influence the delimitation of Caspian bed between
Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan ."
EU/TACIS Sustainable Development of Caspian Coastal Communities
One of the projects conducted by EU/TACIS under the framework of the Caspian Environment
Programme (CEP) is the Sustainable Development of Caspian Coastal Communities implemented
in Azerbaijan , Kazakhstan , Russian Federation and Turkmenistan . The overall objective of this
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project is to reduce and prevent overuse of the natural resources of the Caspian Sea region by
assisting local communities to develop alternative and sustainable sources of livelihoods for local
communities. For more information about this project please contact Mr. David Burton, the Project
Team leader David.Burton@imcconsult.com or look up its Brief Summary and Updated Contact List
on the CEP web site www.caspianenvironment.org .
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