CONFERENCE OF ECOLOGICAL SECURITY IN THE CASPIAN PLANNED FOR THIS SEPTEMBER IN KAZAKHSTAN

A conference on ecological security of the Caspian has been planned for mid-September 2003 in Kazakhstan in the wake of the wide scale development of its hydrocarbon resources. Vladimir Shkolnik, minister of energy and mineral resources, who disclosed this information explained that the event will be attended by ministers concerned with the oil and gas sector and minister s of ecology of the five Caspian littoral states. He said that the forum had been scheduled for Aktau, the administrative center of Mangistau Oblast of Kazakhstan.

Mr Shkolnik also disclosed that the conference will discuss world experience on offshore developments and issues of interaction in the event of an accident on the sea. "All the five Caspian littoral states should show responsibility before the future generation and should take the pain to make all the necessary efforts to avoid pollution," he stated.