BAKU — In a significant bilateral discussion, the Presidents of Azerbaijan and Russia explored critical environmental issues affecting the Caspian Sea, APA reports. The dialogue occurred during a joint press statement featuring Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Russian President Vladimir Putin, following their recent talks.

According to Azeri-Press News Agency, the discussions focused on the concerning environmental situation and the alarming shallowing of the Caspian Sea. Both leaders agreed to conduct a detailed analysis and develop a series of steps to tackle these issues. “We agreed to analyze and outline steps to address this issue both bilaterally and in a five-sided format to prevent a potential environmental disaster,” President Aliyev stated. Additionally, the Azerbaijani leader expressed his gratitude for Russia’s support of Azerbaijan’s bid to host the upcoming COP29 climate conference, highlighting the critical role of bilateral cooperation in preparing for the international event.