Results of the research on problems of Internatsionalization environmental protection problems in the explotation of offshore oil fields of Caspian sea

Introduction.

Caspian region has the special place in Eurasia in connection with rich natural resources and peculiarities of geopolitical conditions. So, rich stocks of oil and gas, rare kinds of fishes and other bioresources attracts of the attention of the world community. Formation of 4-th independent states after disintegration of Soviet Union, the absence of the legal status of Caspian sea, international and interstate conflicts, etc has created a complex geopolitical situation in the region. The new independent states accepted of various ways of the economic development. In the center of attention is development of Energy-carriers resources of Caspian sea. Azerbaijan in these activity outstrips the other Caspian countries. It is connected that the country has traditions, experience and rich specialists potential in the development of offshore oil-fields. At once after disintegration of Soviet Union to the country were invited of foreign oil companies and have been concluded contracts on the production of oil on Caspian sea. In the country is practically away disagreements between political parties on the development of energy-carriers in the Caspian sea with participation of the foreign companies. Therefore, activity on the production and transportation of oil in the region were rather quickly developed . After Azerbaijan, the Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Russia have begun geological prospecting work on Caspian shelf , but rather slow rates. The insignificant work in the Iran on the exploitation of oil-fields are carried out.
The Caspian countries ambiguously concern to high-speed development of sea oil deposits in Azerbaijan. Cooperation of the State oil company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) to western oil companies are also perceived with displeasure. On the basis of these displeasures there are conflicts between these countries. Naturally, main reason of the conflict is connected with non-definition of the Caspian legal status. The conflicts between Azerbaijan and ?urkmenistan and also between ?zerbaijan and Iran has been formed for geographical location of some oil deposits being in boundary zones and are discussed last few years.
The claim concerning to pollution of an environment at operation offshore oil deposits are very frequently expressed to Azerbaijan, though is absent specific arguments about accidental emissions and outflows. Various possible emergency cases and their ecological consequences are nevertheless predicted. On the basis of these forecasts in the region forms ecological stress which in certain conditions can be the source of the interstate conflict. Proceedings of the conference on the Caspian problems , spent in Iran in July 1999 obviously testifies that the ecological problems of oil-production are urgent for stability of the region. The Caspian countries should as soon as possible lead joint examination of the ecological condition of Caspian sea, to define the contributions of separate types of sources and countries in pollution of the sea and joint efforts to solve these problems.
The questions of creation of international cooperation and attraction of the public of the region for the decision of ecological problems of Caspian sea are not considered. Necessity of increase of civil activity in the decision of ecological problems of region and the active participation of the population in acceptance of the decisions is available. These questions to represent gravity also for formation of the civil society. The creation of cooperation between various sectors (state, public, private) of the Caspian countries for the decision of regional ecological problems can be more effective. In the last years the various regional programs for realization of these problems are financed. To them first of all concern: Caspian program of ISAR, Program East-East of Soros Foundation, Program of Black sea-Caspian sea Cooperation of IREX, Caspian project of University of Columbia, Regional Environmental Center of European Union and other.
For the effective decision of the specified problems the importance has also the independent expert appraisal of ecological problems of production and transportation of oil in the Caspian sea and development of the offers on internationalization of regional ecological problems.
Oil industry development in the Caspian countries.
It was collected a lot of information about oil reserves and plan of development
oil industry in Caspian sea.
The oil reserves of Azerbaijan and other Caspian countries have been adduced on table 1.
Table 1. Caspian Sea Region Oil Reserves (Bt)

only the regions near the Caspian are included

Azerbaijan's hope for future economic growth rests with successful development of its vast oil and gas resources in the Caspian Sea region. Crude oil and oil product exports make up over 70% of Azerbaijan's exports, and oil-related revenue makes up nearly 50% of budget revenues. Azerbaijan's oil industry, which experienced a boom at the beginning of the 20th century, is looking to grow rapidly again at the start of the 21st century. Azerbaijan's oil production, which peaked at about 29.2 mln tone per year (t/y) during World War II, dropped off dramatically as the Soviet Union directed resources elsewhere. Azerbaijan and the Caspian sea suffered heavy environmental damage due to the lack of environmental protection measures in place during the Soviet drive for industrial and energy development.
In 1991, Azerbaijan's oil production fell to just 10.2 mln t/y in 1997, before beginning to rebound with the help of international investment in the sector. In 2000, Azerbaijan produced 16.3 mln tones of oil, just off the 1999 total of 16.4 mln . Most of Azerbaijan's oil is produced offshore in the Caspian Sea, with a significant percentage coming from the shallow-water section of the Gunashli field, located 60 miles of the Azeri coast.
The country's proven oil reserves, as well as the enormous possible reserves in undeveloped offshore Caspian fields, have brought international investors flocking to Azerbaijan. Since 1996, over $3.4 billion has been invested in the country's oil sector.
He noted that expected investment in the country's oil sector is $60 billion.
Azerbaijan's big production surge in the next decade is expected to come from further development of ACG. The go-ahead for the first phase of full field development, which will increase production to 20 mln tones by 2004, was expected in the third quarter of 2001. However, AIOC, which is operated by BP (U.K.), announced that the planned Phase-1 program to develop the ACG, focuing on the Azeri field, will not begin until 2004-2005. In effect, full-scale development of the AIOC project will be delayed until a decision has been made on export options, including whether this oil will be exported via the proposed Baku-Ceyhan pipeline.
Azeri crude oil is refined domestically at two refineries: the Azneftyag (Baku) refinery, with a capacity of 11,500,000 t/y, and the Azneftyanajag (New Baku) refinery, which has a capacity of 10,000,000 t/y. With domestic production topping out at 14,000,000 t/y in 2000, Azerbaijan's refineries have been running well below capacity, with overall refinery utilization rates as low as 40%. Both refineries are in need of modernization, which Azerbaijan estimates will cost between $600 million and $700 million. The U.S.
Trade and Development Agency is financing a $500,000-feasibility study for upgrading the Azneftyag refinery, and is providing $400,000 for a feasibility study to upgrade the petrochemical complex in Sumgait.
Azerbaijan had net oil exports of 7,750,000 t/y in 2000. Currently, Azerbaijan's only export routes are the Baku-Novorossiysk pipeline ("northern route"), which sends oil to the Russian Black Sea, and the Baku-Supsa pipeline ("western route"), which mainly carries Azerbaijan's "early oil" from ACG to Georgia's Black Sea coast. Oil products such as lubricants also are exported by rail in tank wagons to Georgia's Black Sea ports. In September 2000, Azerbaijan decided to attempt to boost its oil exports by switching its power-generating facilities from a fuel-oil regime to one that uses gas. Problems with gas supplies during the winter of 2000-2001 reduced Azerbaijan's oil export potential, since fuel oil was needed domestically and the government temporarily ordered SOCAR to suspend exports. SOCAR resumed exports via Novorossiiysk in December 2001.
Azerbaijan's options for increasing its oil exports depend to a large extent on the construction of new pipelines. Although several oil export pipelines from the Caspian Sea region have been under consideration, momentum appears to be growing in support of the proposed Baku-Ceyhan pipeline, a $2.7-billion, 50 million t/y-capacity pipeline that would export Azerbaijani (and maybe Kazakh) oil along a 1,040-mile route from Baku via Georgia to the Turkish Mediterranean port of Ceyhan. Azerbaijan has not wavered in its support for the so-called "Main Export Pipeline" from Baku to Ceyhan, but Iran, Russia, and Ukraine, among others, have proposed alternative oil export routes for Azerbaijan.

Russia. Russia's total oil production fell nearly 23% from 1992 to 1998 after Soviet Union's breakup, but has made a comeback in 1999 and 2000. From 393 million tones in 1992, production fell to 303.5 mln tones in 1998, reflecting a decline in drilling and capital investment as domestic consumption dissipated. Higher world oil prices since March 1999 helped stimulate a jump in Russia's oil output, to 315 mln tones in 1999 and a projected 331 mln tones in 2000.
Russia has an estimated 6.7-7.6 billion tones of oil in proven reserves, but aging equipment and poorly developed fields are making it difficult to develop these reserves.
Russian oil companies have been rushing to export their oil to such an extent that Russian officials have set export quotas in order to maintain an adequate domestic supply of oil. In 1999, Russian net oil exports totaled 198 mln tones, and in 2000 the country's net exports are projected to increase to 208 mln tones. In addition to export quotas and higher taxes levied on oil exports, another problem facing exporters is the lack of export routes. Russia is maneuvering to become a major player in the exploration, development, and export of oil from the Caspian Sea.
Transneft is the state-owned company responsible for Russia's extensive oil pipeline system. Many of these pipelines are in a state of disrepair, with Fuel and Energy Ministry figures indicating that almost 5% of crude oil produced in Russia is lost through pipeline leaks. Transneft lacks the funding to repair or upgrade many of these malfunctioning pipes, and the company's focus instead has been on building new pipelines. In addition to those in the Caspian Sea Region, Russia has a number of new oil and gas pipelines planned or already under construction.

Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan has significant oil reserves, and with the recent opening of the Tengiz-Novorossiisk oil pipeline, the country is beginning to realize some of its enormous export potential. With predictions of up to 10 billion barrels of recoverable oil in the Kashagan offshore oilfield, Kazakhstan could become one of the world's major oil producers in the next decade.
Foreign investment continues to pour into Kazakhstan's potentially enormous oil and gas sector. The country has received $10 billion in foreign investment since independence in late 1991, including slightly over $1 billion in 2000. In January 2001, the National Fund to make the country less exposed to changing prices for energy and commodities exports. Kazakhstan has been eager to tap its production potential of over 150 million t/y. Kazakhstan could earn $700 billion in revenues (including taxes) from offshore oil and gas fields over the next 40 years.
Preliminary drilling in the offshore Kashagan block by the Offshore Kazakhstan International Operating Company (OKIOC) has turned up spectacular results, with analysts estimating possible oil reserves of up to 5.52 billion tones barrels (1.4 billion tones). Although the OKIOC is being very tight-lipped about Kashagan's potential output, oil analysts already are hailing the field as the largest oil discovery in 30 years, bringing fresh optimism to the Caspian Sea region's oil supply potential.
Kazakhstan needs to resolve two major issues in order for it to increase oil production further. Development of the offshore potential of Kazakhstan in the Caspian Sea has been slowed by a dispute over ownership rights. This disagreement ties in with a broader debate between Caspian Sea Region states over how the Caspian Sea should be treated under international law (including environmental issues). In 1997, Kazakhstan signed a communique with Turkmenistan pledging to divide their sections of the Caspian along median lines, and in July 1998 Kazakhstan signed a bilateral agreement with Russia (not yet ratified) dividing the northern Caspian seabed along median lines between the two countries. Both of these agreements are interim until the status of the Caspian Sea is settled among all of the littoral states.
The other major issue is the development of export routes to bring Kazakhstan's oil to world markets. In addition to the CPC pipeline, several additional oil export pipeline routes from the Caspian Sea region are under consideration or in development. Kazakhstan had net exports of approximately 23,650,000 tones/y of crude oil and and condensate in 2000. The majority was shipped by pipeline, mainly via the Atyrau-Saransk-Samara pipeline through Russia, with additional supplies shipped by rail and by barge across the Caspian Sea. In March 2001, Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev appeared to give Kazakhstan's support to the Baku-Ceyhan Main Export Pipeline, saying that the first oil from the giant Kashagan field would go to the pipeline, which is slated to begin construction in the summer of 2001 and be ready by September 2004.
Kazakhstan has three major oil refineries supplying the northern region (at Pavlodar), western region (at Atyrau), and southern region (at Shymkent), with total refining capacity of 21,350,000 tones/year. The refinery at Pavlodar is supplied mainly by a crude oil pipeline from Western Siberia, the Atyrau refinery runs solely on domestic crude from northwest Kazakhstan, and the Shymkent refinery currently uses oil from Kazakh fields at Kumkol, Aktyubinsk, and Makatinsk, but utilization is only 60% because it is unable to process other oils.
Since their pipeline networks are interconnected, Russia and Kazakhstan plan to swap 2,500,000 tones/y of oil. Kazakhstan will deliver oil to Russian refineries on the Atyrau-Samara pipeline and Russia will deliver oil on the Omsk-Pavlodar pipeline for processing at Kazakh refineries. In addition, Kazakhstan and Iran are poised to begin a swap system whereby Kazakhstan would send its crude oil by ship to the Iranian port of Neka, where it would travel by pipeline to a refinery at Tabriz to be refined and consumed locally. In exchange, Kazakhstan would receive the same volume ready for export at an Iranian port in the Persian Gulf. Kazakhstan and Iran signed an agreement in 1996 under which Kazakhstan must swap up to 6,000,000 tones/year through Iran by 2006.

Turkmenistan.Turkmenistan is important to world energy markets because it contains over 100 trillion cubic feet of proven natural gas reserves. It also borders the Caspian Sea, which contains major oil and gas reserves.
Turkmenistan's oil production, which fell after independence to a low of 4,000,000 tones in 1995, increased to 7,800,400 tones in 1999--nearly double its 1995 level-before slipping to 7,400,000 tones in 2000. Turkmenneft, the state-run oil company, accounts for most of the oil extracted in Turkmenistan, producing 90.5% of the country's total in 2000. Turkmengaz, the state gas concern, extracted another 3% of the oil produced, while foreign companies operating in Turkmenistan under production-sharing agreements accounted for the remaining 6.5%. Turkmenistan has proven oil reserves of 75.3 million barrels, with possible reserves (mainly in the western part of the country and in undeveloped offshore areas in the Caspian Sea) of up to 235 million tones.
Turkmenistan has announced plans to increase oil production to 10 mln tones/year, with additional output due to come form newly developed wells in the west of the country. Over the first four months of 2001, the country's oil production, including gas condensate, was up by 10% to 7,500,000 t/y in comparison to the same period in 2000. Of this amount, Turkmenneft accounted for approximately 6,950,000 t/y the oil produced.
Iran. Iran is OPEC's second largest oil producer and holds 9% of the world's oil reserves and 15% of its gas reserves. Additionally, Iran is a focal point for regional security issues.
Iran holds 12 billion tones of proven oil reserves, or roughly 9% of the world's total. The vast majority of Iran's crude oil reserves are located in giant onshore fields in the Khuzestan region near the Iraqi border and Persian Gulf terminus. In February 2001, Iran produced just over 200 million tones/y of oil, around 10 mln tones/y above its average output of 3.8 190 million tones/y for all of 2000. Iran's current sustainable production capacity is estimated at around 190 million tones/y, which is around 12.5 mln t/y above Iran's latest (April 1, 2001) OPEC production quota of 175 mln tones/y. With consumption of about 60 million tones/y, Iran currently is a net exporter of around 130 million tones/y. Around half of Iran's oil exports go to Asian markets, with the remainder going to Europe and Africa. Iran produced 300 million tones/year in 1974, but has not surpassed 190 million tones/y on an annual basis since the 1978/79 Iranian revolution. It is believed that Iran may have maintained production levels at some older fields only by using methods which have permanently damaged the fields. Also, Iran's oilfields are experiencing a depletion rate of 12,500,000-15,000,000 t/y per year, and are in need of upgrading and modernization. Despite these problems, Iran has ambitious plans to boost national oil production to 240 million t/y by 2005, 280 million t/y by 2010, and 365 million tones/y by 2020, and is counting on foreign investment to do so.
Since 1995, NIOC has made several sizable oil discoveries, including the huge (as high as 5 billion-barrel) Darkhovin field, located offshore Abadan and containing low sulfur, 39° API crude oil. Italy's ENI, along with Spain's CEPSA, is bidding to develop Darkhovin and another field, Cheshme-Kosh. In February 2001, NIOC announced the discovery of a very large offshore oil field, named Dasht-e Abadan, in shallow waters near the port city of Abadan. According to a top NIOC official, Dasht-e Abadan could contain reserves "comparable" in size to Azadegan.

The short information about fauna and flora of Caspian sea have been adduced and analysed the influence of oil production to the Caspian environment.

Flora .The vegetative world of Caspian sea consists of 728 kinds and semispecies, from them 5 kinds are submitted by maximum plants. The traces flora of Caspian sea are known with miocena. Blue-green seaweed, or cianbactery can live in conditions low (0 ?) and high (90 ?) of temperatures in waters with various chemical structure. In the Caspian sea is found out 203 kinds Blue-green seaweeds.
Golden seaweeds: in Caspian sea - 2 kinds, which not looking on rather poor structure, meet in various regions of the sea.
Diatomic seaweeds- most widespread in Caspian sea. In the planktone is found out 165 kinds, and in bentoce-129.
Green seaweeds lives in basic in fresh waters. In the Caspian sea is totalled about 139 kinds.
By relative riches differs flora of the coast. In the Atiray area is registered 957 kinds of maximum plants, relating to 371 sorts and 88 families, from them 357 kinds meet in a coastal zone.
The basis flora of coast is represented by such widespread families, as Asteraceae (70 kinds), Chenopodiaceae (52 kinds), Fabacea (40 kinds).
Fauna.Fauna of Caspian sea more than 500 kinds totals, 70 of which concern to fishes. The sea gives almost 90 % world catch of sturgeon and up to 95 % - black caviar.
Volga-Ural interriver, which long since has the economic importance, where foxed best pasture and haymakings, is conducted chase and fishy crafts;
In the Caspian deserts has a 56 kinds of mammals, 278 kinds of birds and 18 kinds of soil-water , many kinds of the animals concern to a category rare and disappearing and require the careful attitude to them. Among them 7 kinds mammals, 36 kinds of birds and 1 kind soil-water are brought in the Red book. The importance for flights and wintering birds has the coast of Caspian sea. In Western Caspian in the autumn annually flies about 6 mln. Chase-trade birds, and in the east part - up to 2 mln. In separate years on Southern Caspian on provisional estimations wintering up to 1,5 mln of waters birds.
Mammals.Fauna of coast of Caspian sea is rather diverse and totals 56 kinds, from which 7 kinds rare and disappearing, brought in the Red book.
Bird.On coast of northern part of Caspian sea at the moment meets 278 kinds of birds, from them build one's nest 110 kinds, wintered 76 kinds and flighted- 92 kinds. Through northern and northeast coast of Caspian migrates up to 3 mln snipes. In separate years on the Kazakhstan part of Caspian of the sea wintered up to 20 thousand goosefoot and up to 100 thousand ducks. In the northern and northeast coast Caspian build one's nest more than 2,5 thousand pairs goosefoot and up to 500 pairs grey goose, more than 2000 pairs of river ducks, up to 1 thousand pairs of ducks and up to 5 thousand pairs snipes, more than 20 thousand pairs gulls and graches, more than 200 pairs large baclans, up to 1 thousand pairs pink and about 100 pairs curly pelicans, more than 10 thousand pairs of herons. Moreover in year (summer) period are here going on sheddings up to 80 thousand goosefoot and up to 100 thousand river ducks.
Fish.On quantity of the forms the main situation in Caspian sea belongs to the representatives from family herrings, carp and goby fishes, making more of 75 of % fish fauna.
Practically on all east coast of Northern Caspian, especially in estuary of the rivers Ural, Volga, Emba, are rather numerous a fish, which it is accepted to consider freshwater or salt-water:
Cyprinus carpio (L) ,Scardinius erythrophthalmus (L) ,Silurus glanis (L) , Perca fluviatilis (L) , Stizostedion lucioperca (L) , Esox lusicus (L)
The main Environmental problems of Caspian countries and oil pollution of Caspian sea have been considered.
Azerbaijan. Ecological problems of Caspian sea (chemical pollution by rivers, waste waters and oil products; rising of water level) Ecological problems of the oil industry (Offshore oil production, oil transportation, Oil-refinery and Environment of Baku), Desertification and drought, Radiation safety, Ecological problems of Sumgait petrochemical complex, Agroecological problems, Problem of ?ur?-?r??s. The last period one of main ecological problems of country became - Social-environmental problems of 1 mln refugees as a results of Karabakh military conflict.
Kazakstan. Radioactive or toxic chemical sites associated with its former defense industries and test ranges are found throughout the country and pose health risks for humans and animals; industrial pollution is severe in some cities; because the two main rivers which flowed into the Aral Sea have been diverted for irrigation, it is drying up and leaving behind a harmful layer of chemical pesticides and natural salts; these substances are then picked up by the wind and blown into noxious dust storms; pollution in the Caspian Sea; soil pollution from overuse of agricultural chemicals and salination from faulty irrigation practices.
Russia. Radiactive and toxic chemical wastes of industry (Nuclear Electrostation, metallurgy, oil-gas industry), pollution of Rivers and other water basins by municipality and industrial wastes. Environmental impact of mining industry in Ural and Siberia. Coal combustion in the thermal Power station and coking technology . Soil degradation by the activities of agriculture and industry.
Turkmenistan. Contamination of soil and groundwater with agricultural chemicals, pesticides; salinization, water-logging of soil due to poor irrigation methods; Caspian Sea pollution; diversion of a large share of the flow of the Amu Darya into irrigation contributes to that river's inability to replenish the Aral Sea; desertification.
Iran. Air pollution, especially in urban areas, from vehicle emissions, refinery operations, and industrial effluents; deforestation; overgrazing; desertification; oil pollution in the Persian Gulf; inadequate supplies of potable water.

Oil Transport Issues.
In addition to the health and environmental threats due to oil production in the Caspian, the sea's geographic location complicates the issue. Because the Caspian is land-locked, in order to reach world markets all oil produced there has to be transported via pipeline, which increases the environmental risks. Illegal tapping of the Baku-Novorossiysk pipeline in Chechnya already has caused major leakage problems.
Environmental questions surrounding the Bosphorus in particular and the Black Sea in general have also begun to factor heavily in the choice of export routes for Caspian oil. Turkey has argued against export routes that utilize the Black Sea because the projected increase in large oil tankers would pose serious navigational, safety, and environmental threats to the Bosphorus.
In addition, the northern Caspian is home to more the 80% of the Caspian's netted fish, and is characterized by relatively shallow waters and the lack of currents, making it more difficult to regenerate its natural resources in the event of an environmental problem. Tanker traffic and trans-Caspian pipelines potentially could impact fish migration routes.

Waste Discharges. Approximately 130 large and small rivers flow into the Caspian, nearly all of which flow into the north or west coast. The Volga River, the sea's largest single source, splits into a thousand smaller streams as it flows through a largely uninhabited delta feeding into the Caspian Sea. This marsh serves as a filter, cleansing the river of some of the upstream pollution, but sufficient amounts still reach the Caspian to cause major imbalances, especially in the shallow north basin which has limited absorption capacity.
The Caspian still has miles of undeveloped coastline, especially along the eastern shore in Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan where there are no permanent inflows. Yet the south end of the sea is a deep, dark gray, polluted with the discharges from sewer pipes and factory drains from the five littoral states. Air pollution from Tehran, due largely to the abundance of old cars that lack catalytic converters, falls out in the Caspian when the wind blows the smog north from Iran, contributing to the sea's environmental problem.
However, waste discharges--both from industrial sources such as oil operations and mining and municipal sewage--account for the lion's share of pollution in the Caspian. The World Bank has estimated that a million cubic meters of untreated industrial wastewater is discharged into the Caspian annually. A major culprit is the Azeri coastal city of Sumgayit: during the Soviet era, the city was planned as a model center for petrochemical industries, but in an effort to keep up with the continually increasing production quotas, the environment was subjugated to industrial goals. Hundreds of thousands of tons of toxic wastes each year were released into the atmosphere or dumped into a creek that fed into the Caspian.
The result was predictable: pollution overwhelmed the sea around Sumgayit and Baku, creating a virtual dead zone, and the area witnessed a dramatic rise in stillbirths and miscarriages. The legacy lives on, as untreated sewage is still dumped into the Caspian, and mercury-contaminated sludge wastes (from the use of mercury in chlor-alkali production) are accumulating. Because the wastes often are stored inadequately, ground water contamination and leakage into the Caspian Sea is likely. Discharges of processed water already have severely contaminated sea bottom sediments in the Caspian.
Scientists have expressed concern that new offshore drilling could discharge harmful pollutants into the sea. The pollution of the Caspian Sea from waste waters containing high concentrations of dangerous substances used at the Sunkar drilling barge has been occurring since the first day of operations.The analysis of the waste water, carried out at the laboratory of the Atyrau region's division of the Environmental Protection Agency, showed that it contained concentrations 180 times higher than acceptable for ammonia salts, 188 times higher for nitrates, and 220 times higher for phenols.
Water. The analysis of received at the moment data has shown, that the greatest concentration of heavy and transitive metals in water of Eastern Caspian have on copper, zinc and barium. The parameters of these elements in water reach to 20 ?cg/l for Cyprum and zinc 10-20 mcg/l) and 50
The heavy metals in water of northern part of Caspian sea in the following meanings: copper- 7 mcg/l , zinc- 22 mcg/l , lead -1.3 mcg/l , cadmium- 0.5 mcg/l . The concentration of copper at the moment is much higher than a level resulted by the authors, and the parameters on zinc are comparable to the specified sizes.
Average meanings of elements in dry weight of the ground, received for extensive territory of a northeast part of the sea, have made: zinc 2.0 - 2.8 mcg/l (average 8.0 mcg/l ; copper 1.0 - 15.0 mcg/l (average 4.0 mcg/l ); Cd < 0.02 - 0.34 mcg/l (average 0.073 mcg/l ); lead < 2.0 - 8.0 mcg/l (average 3 mcg/l ); chrom - 27.0 mcg/l (average 10 mcg/l ); nickel < 4.0 - 27.0 mcg/l (average 10.0 mcg/l); barium 32.0 - 140.0 mcg/l (average 70 mcg/l ); vanadium 5.0 - 32.0 mcg/l (average 13.0 mcg/l ); mercury < 0.005 - 0.075 mcg/l (average 0.019 ?cg/l ); iron 1032.0 - 12100.0 mcg/l (average 3995.0 mcg/l ). The average concentration of arsenium was lower than a limit of sensitivity of a method (< 10.0 mcg/l ).
The comparison of data under the contents of chemical elements in ground silt of Caspian sea with other regions of the world, shows higher concentration of heavy and transitive metals, received for sea adjourment of a northeast part of the sea.

Fish as a bioindicator for ecological situation . Sea Caspian biothat has unique chemical structure and set of chemical elements and connections and can be used as the indicator of pollution and ecological condition of environment.
The ecological conditions in northeast Caspian have largely an effect for qualitative and quantitative parameters their biots. Rather moderate pollution of water weights Caspian sea not yet speaks about it defendence from antropogenic influence. In result of spent researches by Popov and other (1997) strong pollution of waters of river delta by oil, heavy by metals was established, from which leading position borrow zinc, iron and copper. For this reason, the industrial drains acting in the seas, containing salts of heavy metals, are at the moment basic sources of accumulation of toxic elements in the bentose, planctone, fishes. Therefore the control and monitoring of pollution by heavy and transitive metals of components Caspian fishes including sturgeon fishes, especially subject influence of toxicants in conditions Caspian sea is necessary. This purpose modern ecological researches of a background condition of an environment of a northeast part of Caspian seas, dated for geology-prospecting drilling and production of oil.
In May 1996 the average levels at investigated metals in bodies and fabrics of fishes were in the following ranges(mcg/g):
In liver: Ba 1.5-12.5 ; Cd-0.9 ; chrom- 0.7 ; copper- 12.5-60.6 ; iron 193.8-975.0 ; mercury-0.6 and zinc- 77.5-737.5 .
In muscle: Ba 0.3-4.6 ; Ch 0.8-4.9 ; Cu 1.3-21.2 ; Fe 8.9-46.5 ; Pb 0.1-1.9 ; Ni -4.9; lead-0.9 ; Zn- 19.5-57.3 .
In caviar: Ba 0.7-7.6 ; chrom 0.6-3.5 ; copper 3.0-11.4 ; iron 62.6-166.3 ; mercury -0.1 ; nickel-2.0 ; lead -0.1 ; zinc 40.7.
Phenols. The presence of oil pollution slows down disintegration phenols since biodegradation of oil hydrocarbons will form own phenols, increasing a general picture of pollution.
According to researches on an estimation of influence of geology-prospecting work on natural environment of Northern Caspian, the contents phenols in sea water reached 8 ?cg/l.
The average contents phenols in water of Northern Caspian reaches 60 ?cg/l, and characteristic for waters of this region average meaning makes 3 ?cg/l.
The average concentration phenols in water has increased lately up to 0.006 ?g/l. In 1996 the average size of the contents phenols in water near to east coast of Caspian sea made 3.9 ?cg/l, that corresponded to fixed parameters by the various authors.
Average meaning of the contents phenols, marked in period with 1985 on 1990 , varied from 3.0 up to 9.0 ?cg/l. The maximum concentration 30.0 ?cg/l were marked in the sea part of a mouth of the river Ural .
During fulfilment of the field monitoring program of environmental condition , carried out at the stage of geophysical researches parameters of the contents phenols below 20.0 ?cg/l were everywhere fixed. At inspection of the northeast part of Caspian sea in 1996 as was not fixed of any case of excess of the contents phenols of a mark 20.0 ?cg/l.

The Contribution of separate Caspian countries and various types of sources in the pollution of Caspian sea have been defined.

For revealing a role of oil production in the pollution of the sea it is necessary to define of the initial ecological condition of Caspian sea. It includes determination of structure of sea water, basic sources of outflows, distribution of pollutants and etc. Are basically available three kinds of pollution sources such water basins:
- rivers,
- municipality drains
- industrial drains.
In the all Caspian countries such sources of Caspian sea pollution are available. Definition of capacity and property of these outflows will allow on the one hand to establish a role of separate types of sources in pollution of the sea, with other- to find out the contribution of the separate countries in this process. These data have importance for an establishment of a role of oil extracting in the sea pollution and internationalization of ecological problems of Caspian sea.
For finding - out of these questions we analyzed original results of research of the International commission under the control of pollution Caspian sea. The control is spent on nitrogen, phosphorus, biological consumption of oxygen, oil, mercury and Cadmium.
It is visible, that the contribution of river flows to pollution Caspian of the sea specified pollutants reaches to the 94.6 %.
The distribution of these pollution between Caspian countries and types of sources is adduced in the table 2.
Table 2.
Contribution of the countries and branches in the oil pollution (t/y) of Caspian sea

Limits 83-96 % of harmful substances is had by the rivers of Russia, mainly by Volga river. It is connected that about 45 % of the industry and 50 % of an agriculture of Russia located in the territory Volga river basin. The area of the Volga river makes about 8 % of territory of Russia.
Pollution of the sea municipality and industrial wastes of the separate countries are resulted. It has been established, that the greatest contribution thus has Azerbaijan in case of municipal drains, Kazakhstan and Russia of industrial drains on them pollutants.
More interesting is problems of pollution of the sea by oil from external sources. It is established that more than 60 % of oil pollution of Caspian sea belongs to river drains.
In the oil pollution of Caspian sea Azerbaijan has contribution -12.8 %, Iran -5.57 %, Kazakhstan- 14.1 %, Russia-62.9 % and Turkmenistan-4.6 of % .
It is visible, that about 62 % of oil pollution of the sea on the share of river drains, 15.8 % - municipality of drains and 23%- industrial drains.
It is necessary to note, that it is initial condition of Caspian sea before the beginning of intensive operation of oil deposits.
The analysis of the documents Environmental Impact Assessment Projects shows, that many advanced companies of the world promise to work in the regime " zero pollution". However is not excluded, accident and incident cases as at drilling and productions, and at transportation of oil on the coast. Therefore, questions of internationalization of these ecological problems Caspian sea leaves on forward plan and it is necessary them to solve immediately.
The international contracts on the oil production in the Caspian sea have been analysed
For creation of national legislative system, in Azerbaijan as the basic document in 1991 the Constitutional act about Independence Azerbaijan, and in 1995 national referendum the Constitution of Azerbaijan Republic was accepted. In these years parliament of Azerbaijan- Milli Mejlis was implemented great work on acceptance of the laws regulating problems on use and protection of natural resources. Being integrated in international community, Azerbaijan has signed about 15 international conventions on the environment protection. In created by us Web-site http://ruzgar.aznet.org indicated detailed information on the ecological legislation and about participation of Azerbaijan? in the International conventions. Nowadays these laws and international-legal acts created system of the legislation on protection of environment and use of natural resources of Azerbaijan Republic.
After purchase of independence Azerbaijan has become to make in revival of the oil industry, which long years was the basis of the national economy. The negotiations with the oil companies, spent 1991-1993 years have involved attention to Azerbaijan not only business, but also political circles of the various countries and were a basis of political instability and struggle for authority in Azerbaijan. On September 20, 1994 in ty productions 500 mln tone of oil from offshore oil deposits Azeri, Chirag and Guneshli. Azerbaijan has entered new oil era of the development. For a today's is signed and ratified 21 contracts on production of carbohydrogens and construction of an oil pipeline Baku-?bilisi-Ceyhan. 15 from them concern to exploitation of oil-fields of Azerbaijan sector of Caspian sea . On realization of the specified projects 38 companies from 20 countries and the consortia put significant financial assets.
The similar work on operation of offshore oil deposits are begun practically in all Caspian countries. In Turkmenistn oil sector only in 1999 Transnational corporations has enclosed the investments about 400 mln USD. Total volume of stocks of oil is 12 bln tone, and gas-23 000 bln m3. More 10 International oil companies have begun development in Turkmenistan sector of Caspian sea. In Russian sector of the sea Lukoil, and Kazakhstan sector-consortia OKIOC have also begun the activity. In Iranian sector while will be carried out seismic prospecting on operation of offshore oil and gas. In this connection there are the disputed situations on distribution of oil deposits between the countries. To the example it is possible to note the conflict around the deposit "Kyapaz " between Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan. Frequently express displeasure by Turkmenistan and Iranian parties concerning operation boundary oil deposits by Azerbaijan.
The Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan are developed oil deposit in Caspian region. Irrespective of, whether these deposits coastal or coast are, they are located mainly on crossing line Baku-Turkmenbashi and in a northeast part of Caspian (Kazakhstan). The stocks of hydrocarbons on the Caspian sea are estimated 6-20 bln tons. The disorder of figures of stocks is significant, as to the present of time only 10 % of bottom of the sea was investigated by experimental drilling for maintenance of a real picture of stocks. Rather staying 90 %, in geophysical work on investigation of oil is involved about 30 % of Caspian sea, equivalent 60 % Caspian sea while not yet is rather investigated.
If the optimistic forecasts will appear exact stocks of oil on Caspian achieve 25 bln tons or 10-18 % from number of world stocks of oil. Even the most pessimistic estimation of deposits on Caspian sea is- 6 bln tons of oil, that is 2-4 % of world stocks.

The position of Caspian countries on the legal status of Caspian sea and problems of the environmental protection have been considered
The energy-resources of Caspian sea, large-scale projects of their production and transportations, and also the prospects of creation transnational corridors much raise the geopolitical importance Caucasus-Caspian region. Therefore it is no wonder, that the given water pool has become a source of finding - out of interests between 5 Caspian countries. In this connection great importance gets a question on the legal status of Caspian sea. Naturally, for the joint decision of ecological problems Caspian it has importance.
On division Caspian sea there are a few variants.
1. Distribution on this sea general principles of the sea rights. But these principles for insignificant on the scales of closed pool do not approach.
2. Creation of legislation acts for Caspian as international lake. But in the International right there are not enough norms, determining the status of international lake.
3. Announcement Caspian as international pool, belonging simultaneously Caspian countries, which can in common maintain its resources.

Position of Azerbaijan Republic. Azerbaijan considers, that Caspian sea is lake and should be shared according to practice of section of international lakes. In such case a component of territory Caspian of the states should be internal waters, included in national sectors, and air space over them. The section of international lake is usually made on " average line ", equal distance from the coastal line frontal states. Thus the lines of section of lake become state borders of the coastal countries. Under their national justification pass the appropriate sector of lake and being available there natural resources.
It has found reflection in Constitution of Azerbaijan Republic. The actions of the Azerbaijan party are based on accepted in 1970 by Ministry of the oil and gas industry of former USSR the decision on division Caspian national sectors between republics, included in structure of former Soviet Union.
Except the above-stated variant two approaches to the future differentiation on unique water basin take place yet. Russia and Kazakhstan act for section of bottom Caspian at preservation in joint using bottom of water and surface of sea - lake. And not only act: between two states already the documents, providing just similar differentiation work.
Yet two Caspian countries- Iran and ?urkmenistan - approach to development of the new status practically with a uniform position. ?shgabad and Teheran consider, that, in case of section Caspian on national sectors, it should be divided by a principle of equal shares, and, with identical justification as of bottom, and water . They consider, that on water basin various mechanisms, ensuring the boundary, customs, ecological control, should work only.
Continued uncertainty over the Caspian Sea's legal status is hindering further oil and gas development in the area. The Caspian Sea littoral states-Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Turkmenistan-thus far have failed to agree on a plan to divide up the sea's resources, including the oil-rich seabed. Azerbaijan has advocated the establishment of maritime boundaries based on an equidistant division of the sea, but Iran and Turkmenistan disagree. Azerbaijan remains locked in disputes with Turkmenistan over the Kyapaz (Serdar), Khazar, and Osman fields, while Azerbaijan has objected to Iran's decision to award Royal Dutch/Shell and Lasmo a license to conduct seismic surveys in a region that Azerbaijan considers to fall in its territory. A proposed March 2001 summit of the heads of state of the Caspian countries was postponed indefinitely, further setting back efforts to achieve a final resolution of the sea's status.
The Russian party firstly insisted that all natural riches Caspian sea were in general possession of all states, the borders of which leave on coast. At the level Russian ?EA, was even prepared and document is dispatched in all Caspian countries. Under this document it was offered for each of the interested states to keep a 12-mile zone, and the sea spaces outside to consider as general property.
Position of Islamic Republic of Iran . The unique state, expressing "against" delimitation of Caspian sea, to this day remains Iran. In spite of the fact that post-soviet republics come gradually to the general consent, Islamic Republic of Iran is persistent in desire to work together with Caspian countries on development of oil deposits. The affinity Islamic Republic to Russia even more has become stronger due to the general point of view on joint activity all Caspian of the states. However it has not played in harm to the relations with other states. Iran assidiously worked above strenghtening of communications with Kazakhstan.
After disorder of Soviet Union in 1991 the number Caspian of the states has increased up to five, and the question on the status of Caspian sea has become disputable. Iran together with Russia firmly adhered to the previous agreement, refusing acceptnecessity of division Caspian on national sectors. In opinion of Iran, Caspian sea is outside of applicability of a rule of division of water space on such regions, as continental shelf and territorial zones.
As a whole, for a today's day Islamic Republic of Iran is not pleased to division of the sea on sectors, as on her party, really, least quantity of stocks of oil. While only Teheran not accept delimitation of Caspian sea. But is thought, that if for such decision will vote the majority of the countries, Iran will owe with opinion other Caspian countries agree.
Position of Russian Federation. Qualifying of Caspian sea as closed water basin, Russia considers, that to it norms of the international sea rights are not applicable. Caspian sea is object of sharing, and all questions of activity, switching on resource development, should be solved with participation all Caspian states.
It means, that oil and other riches of Caspian sea and water resources should accustom at participation and under the control of Russia.
As a whole it is possible to make a conclusion, that the transport factor gets paramount importance in oil policy of Russia in relation to the states near countries. It is possible only under condition of a choice of variants of its transportation through territory of Russia, and also participation of the Russian companies in development of deposits. Therefore yet prior to the beginning real industrial development of oil resources new Caspian of the states a complex intrigue around of structure of the participants of the projects and especially around of routes of transportation of oil was fastened.
Position of Republic Turkmenistan . Turkmenistan a management changes from one basic block to other. Poorly that, this state in current of long-duration time in general had not any point of view. But now, at last, Ashgabad was defined in the position.
In addition to the question of export routes, the five countries surrounding the Caspian Sea remain divided over who owns the resources in the seabed. The littoral states have yet to agree on a legal framework governing the Sea's resources, with the environmental risks and potential oil and gas wealth heightening the stakes for each country . Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan remain locked in a dispute over the Serdar/Kyapaz field, and, in addition, Turkmenistan claims that portions of the Azeri and Chirag fields--which Ashgabat calls Khazar and Osman, respectively within its territorial waters. Turkmenistan has insisted that work at the Azerbaijan International Operating Company's concession at the Azeri and Chirag fields be stopped.
Turkmenistan nevertheless supports delimitation of Caspian on national sectors.
Turkmenistan has created expert group on definition of coordinates average line and limits justification Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan in aquatory of Caspian sea. " Caspian sea it is possible to divide and on sectors, and acceptfor each state a 45-mile zone, and other to make neutral. Both variants us arrange, if only other Caspian state agreed " has told the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan B.Shikhmuradov.
On Caspian sea for Turkmenistan gas is important. As fourth on size the manufacturer of gas Ashgabad occupies a little ambisious position in discussions on section of the Caspian sea. Originally Turkmenistan adhered to the Kazakhstan-Azerbaijan position, according to which Caspian sea should be shared on sectors. Then the leaders of Turkmenistan have changed the positions, supporting the Iran-Russian offer to limit coastal territorial waters up to 45 miles. However present actions Turkmenistan, being a subject of disputes with Azerbaijan, is similar assume, that Turkmenistan has again returned on the former position.

Position of Republic Kazakhstan. Almaty has declared presence of two extreme positions, one of which is asserted by Russia, and other - Azerbaijan. Kazakhstan management has tried to undertake a role reconciler , offering the point of view, which as gold middle will arrange both parties.
Kazakhstan considers, that bottom of the sea and resources of Caspian should be delimited between the coastal states. Thus to take into account not only international rules and practice concerning mineral resources; being at the bottom boundary water basins, but also usual on an extent of many decades practice USSR and Iran on Caspian, where they are absolutely independent and without mutual advice extracted oil. That is, followed to the usual right, which actually served a legal basis soviet and Iran activity on production of Caspian oil. Kazakhstan is convinced, that such approach as much as possible corresponds to lawful interests of the Caspian states.
First,, it raises the responsibility of each coastal state for correct and safe use of resources of Caspian in the part of the sea and opportunity of effective legal regulation of such activity on the basis of the national legislation provides.
Secondly, such decision opens a way to each coastal state for attraction of the investments from the outside, and also most modern safe technologies, without that any Caspian state today in foreseeable prospect will not in a condition master Caspian resources.
Thirdly, creates a reliable and long-term legal basis for activity of Caspian states on development resources of the sea, avoiding thus of the contracts of rather particular deposits on Caspian, which will be constant to arise at other approach. That is, the speech goes about creation of strong legal base for the world and stability in region.

Caspian sea is unique water basin, have huge influence on whole ecosystem of huge region. For preservation of ecosystems and the prevention ecological stress is necessary in common to solve ecological problems largest in the world of water pool. Long years a management former USSR did not ??y due attention to questions of Caspian protection. At the moment Caspian countries - it, in basic, new states with unstable economy. They have not sufficient means for guards of the sea. But further to hesitate already it is impossible. It is necessary to organize effective protection of Caspian sea. Therefore aspiration of the management of Azerbaijan, NGOs and representatives of a public Caspian states to Internationalization the given questions is clear. For this purpose necessary close cooperation between five Caspian by the countries and attraction of attention of world community to problems of sea protection.
The absence of legal status Caspian does not allow the states effectively to solve the problem on protection of this water pool. In the Caspian states there is not enough strong normative-legal base for its protection. There is no uniform Convention. The legislations of the Caspian states is strong different. The fixed limits of emissions on the sea are not synchronized. There are not enough uniform standards. Therefore at development of the offers on internationalization of ecological problems of oil production in Caspian it is necessary to take into account these circumstances.

The normative-legal acts, directed to the environmental protection of Caspian sea have been revised . It has been established that Caspian countries signed part of International Conventions only:
Major International Environmental Agreements:
-Azerbaijan: A party Combat to desertification, Climate Change, Biodiversity, Ozone layer protection, Wetlands, Aarchus, Transboundary Watercourses and international lakes, International Trade in endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, Prevention of pollution from Ships, Protection of cultural and natural monuments, Environmental impact Assessment in transboundary context, Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal
-Russia: A party to Conventions on Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands and Whaling. Has signed, but not ratified, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94.
-Kazakhstan: A party to Conventions on Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution.
-Turkmenistan: A party to Conventions on Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes and Ozone Layer Protection.
-Iran: A party to Conventions on Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection and Wetlands. Has signed, but not ratified, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea and Marine Life Conservation

Prospect of acceptance of the international convention on the protection of Caspian sea
was defined:
The application to Caspian sea the convention UN under the sea right is justified. So, the national legislations of the Caspian states quite correspond.
So, article 2 of the law about detection and use of natural resources Iranian continental shelf on June 18, 1955 includes the note on Caspian sea and its continental shelf: " In the relation Caspian sea by the basis of activity was and there is international law, relating to the closed seas ".
In the law on state border of Turkmenistan on October 1, 1993 the territorial sea on Caspian sea in width of 12 miles according to the norms of the convention UN under the sea right is established.
In case of a recognition by Russian Federation of the legal status of Caspian as the seas to it we apply the federal Law of Russian Federation " About continental shelf of Russian Federation " on November 30, 1995. In other case (Caspian - lake) the activity of Russia and it oil-gas companies on Caspian appear of deprived national legal base. For example, activity "LUKoil" on western site of a deposit Kurmankazi, which according to the Kazakhstan-Russian arrangement will be referred to Russian justification
Complicating these environmental problems is the dispute surrounding the legal rights to the Caspian's resources. The argument among the littoral states over a method for dividing the Caspian still has not been resolved. Negotiations on legal issues surrounding the Caspian Sea include the resolution of environmental concerns. Both Iran and Russia have opposed the laying of trans-Caspian pipelines and objected to oil and gas development projects in the Caspian on environmental causes. Russian parliamentary hearings on the final status of the Caspian Sea called for accelerating the signing of the Agreement on Preservation and Rational Use of Caspian Sea Bio-Resources, and for creating more stringent protection of the Caspian.
Following talks about the division of the northern Caspian between Kazakhstan and Russia, called for uniform environmental requirements to be applied in the area along Russian policies, while noting that the agreement stated that the Caspian's water is an asset of both countries.
Although governments have not always been diligent in their implementation or enforcement of environmental legislation and regulation, environmental groups are finding more success. Environmental concerns have meant that companies are increasing their use of environmental insurance. The Offshore Kazakhstan International Operating Company (OKIOC), which has begun drilling, has already signed a contract for a $500 million environmental insurance policy from a Kazakh company, which then obtained reinsurance from a Western insurer.
The main difference of opinions among the five littoral countries lies in the uneven distribution of potential oil riches in the region. Key legal issues include:
· Whether, in the absence of a new legal convention, treaties signed between the former Soviet Union and Iran are still in force and thereby govern current development rights. The Soviet Union and Iran signed bilateral treaties on the Caspian Sea in 1921 and 1940, but neither established seabed boundaries or discussed oil and gas exploration;
· The need to develop a legal framework to resolve environmental and biological issues. Several countries have opposed the laying of proposed Trans-Caspian oil and gas pipelines on environmental grounds;
· Whether the Caspian is a body of water covered by the Law of the Sea Convention, which does not cover inland lakes. If the Law of the Sea convention were applied to the Caspian Sea, full maritime boundaries of the five littoral states bordering the Caspian would be established based upon an equidistant division of the sea and undersea resources into national sectors.
The five littoral states set up a Caspian Center in Baku to coordinate efforts to resolve these questions. A working group made up of representatives from each country was created to draw up a joint declaration on the new legal status of the Caspian Sea, but the group failed to make progress on settling differences.
In the meantime, in the absence of a formal agreement among the five countries on the legal status of the Caspian, several countries have signed bilateral agreements to clarify their positions. Rather than arguing whether the Caspian is a lake or an enclosed sea and dividing the Caspian accordingly, in 1997, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan agreed "to adhere to the borders of the sectors along the median line" until a convention on the legal status of the Caspian is signed. Also in 1997, Kazakhstan signed a communique with Turkmenistan pledging to divide their sections of the Caspian along median lines based upon Soviet-era divisions until the littoral states agreed upon a new status for the Caspian.
While there is now general agreement between Russia, Azerbaijan, and Kazakhstan on both "the principle and the method" of dividing rights to the seabed and the mineral wealth beneath it, a number of sticking points remain that could prevent a formal agreement. Although dividing the seabed would provide each country with control over its own resources, the exact location of these median lines has not been decided.
Azerbaijan, Russia, and Kazakhstan have agreed in principle on a division which would give them shares extending out from their respective coastlines. Where national zones met in the middle of the sea, borders would be equidistant from the facing coastlines. However, the potentially difficult question about the division of oil and gas fields that overlap offshore boundaries has not been decided yet.
The proposal on the improvement of ecological policy in Caspian countries for joint activity in the solving of environmental problems have been developed:
Caspian sea is unique water basin on the stocks of rare kinds of fishes, energy-carriers and potential opportunity for development of ship transport. Therefore the protection and preservations of biosphere is the paramount problem of ecologists of Caspian countries. The all problems Caspian sea are regional and can be solved only by creation the ??operation of all Caspian countries. However, number of difficulties, connected to occurrence 4-th new independent states in region, absence of the International convention or other international acts on Caspian sea protection, non-definite legal status of Caspian sea and other circumstances, is available. All these does not allow to create the effective cooperation. At the same time already since 1991, at once after disintegration of Soviet Union, negotiations between Caspian countries and western oil companies on operation offshore oil deposits are begun. To this time various figures about stocks of oil in shelf were available. These figures at the moment are in limits from 6 up to 20 bln tons on various sources (State Department of USA, Department on Commerce USA, Centre of strategic and international researches). Among the Caspian countries the Azerbaijan more heavily negotiated and in 1994 has concluded the oil contracts on production more than 700 mln tone of oil on shelf. This circumstances, connected with presence of tradition and experience Azerbaijan in the production of oil in world scale, especially in operation of offshore oil deposits, and also more intensive development of democratic reforms promoted. At the moment already more than 38 companies from 18 countries on the production more than 1.5 bln of tons of oil on territory of Azerbaijan is made 21 international contracts .
The similar activity on operation of offshore oil deposits are begun practically in all Caspian countries. In ?urkmenistan oil sector only in 1999 Transnational corporations has enclosed the investments about 400 mln USD. Total volume of stocks of oil is 12 bln ?one, and gas-23 000 bln m3. More 10 International oil companies have begun development in Turkmenistan sector of Caspian sea. In Russian sector of the sea Lukoil, and Kazakhstan sector-consortia ??IOC have also begun the activity. In Iranian sector while will be carried out seismic prospecting . Despite it there are no certain legal and normative agreements between these countries on operation of offshore oil and gas. In this connection there are the disputed situations on distribution of oil deposits between the countries.
From April 1999 production of early oil from the platform "Chirag-1" is begun and by July 2000 is extracted and on western direction of pipelines Baku-Supsa have been transported about 6 mln tons of oil. As we shown in section 6 thus, in atmosphere of the country is thrown out more than 1 mln tons of harmful substances. Emissions from platforms of offshore oil production in adverse meteorological conditions can be distributed on territory other Caspian countries. It can be more significant in case of failures and incidents. Transboundary uncontrollable pollution of air environment can in the end bring in the interstate and international conflicts on the basis of ecological stress. Such pollution at the moment comes true practically on the part of all Caspian countries and it is necessary them to take in the international control and to create the international normative acts on this issue. It should make bases of internationalization of problems of air basin protection at operation of Caspian oil deposits.
Azerbaijan has 50-year experience on production of oil on the sea and ecological aspects of this process were investigated. The analysis of these researches, and also arising situation in the international relations of Caspian countries allow to offer realization of the following steps to the decision of internationalization issues of ecological problems of the oil industry:
1) Introduction in the ecological acts of all countries of the rule for necessity of joint action at the decision of ecological problems of Caspian, in particular, problems, arising in result of development of the offshore oil industry.
2) Development and application of uniform system of the standards on concentration of harmful substances in air environment both specifications of payment and penalties for pollution of air environment.
3) Organization of uniform international ecological expertise in Caspian countries for consideration of ecological aspects of the international oil contracts on production and transportation of oil and gas in Caspian sea
4) Creation of uniform ecological fund and services for immediate liquidation of consequences of failures in the oil industry on Caspian sea
5) Duly mutual message about emergency emissions
6) Coordination of procedures of presentation of the economic sanctions for pollution of air basin
7) Mutual acquainting and coordination of the large projects on the oil industry, sold
on boundary zones
8) Increase of public awareness to lobby state nature protection organs and oil companies for the decision of air protection problems by realization of public expertise and organization of national hearing of the sold projects
9) Entry in the International conventions and Agreements on environmental protection (Climate Change , Transboundary waters, Combat to desertification, ??ntreal agreement, Kioto Protocol , Vienna agreement, Transboundary pollution and etc)
The realization of the specified steps will be more effective, in the event that all Caspian country with participation of various international organizations will be signed the International convention on Caspian sea protection and will define the legal status of Caspian. With the purpose of the more effective decision of put problems the author has activities in the field of creation of international cooperation in the decision of regional problems of air pollution in oil industry on Caspian sea. In missions to ?tiray (Kazakhstan), ?strakhan (Russia), Derbent (Russia) are discussed ways of the joint decision of ecological problems of oil extracting. The ecological questions of the planned oil pipeline for transportation large Caspian oil on the route Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan are discussed with the Turkish colleagues. On border of Azerbaijan with Iran developped work on boundary oil deposits on Caspian sea. ???nsboundary ecological problems are surveyed on places in Lenkoran-Astara-Masally regions and the results are discussed with Iranian colleagues. Primary results show, that the idea internationalization of problems of air basin protection at development of the oil industry are supported with all Caspian countries. Necessity of organization of the international public-ecological movement on the this question is available. These offers are submitted also in Milli Medjlis (Parliament) of country for the account at preparation of the acts on Caspian basin protection, at ratification of the oil contracts and at the establishment of international relation between Caspian countries.
The special attention is foxed to the activity of Non-governmental ecological organizations (NGOs) on the internationalization of Caspian environmental problems
The cooperation of ecological public organizations of Caspian region, including of Georgia began since 1997. This cooperation is financed by the Programs East-East of Soros foundation, IREX, Caspian Program of ISAR, Worldbank and etc. The basic purpose of these programs is the joint solving of regional ecological problems, and by that of prevention of the interstate conflicts on the basis of ecological stress. The financing appear as the technical help, information maintenance, organization of ecological expedition, conferences and seminars.
The basic directions of activity of these programs are:
- Realization of joint public monitoring for ecological condition of Caspian sea
- Definition of the contribution of the separate countries and types of sources in the pollution of Caspian sea
- Increasing of civil activity in internationalization of environmental protection problems of Caspian sea
- Formation of an international public ecological movement for protection of Caspian sea
- Lobbation of state bodies for acceptance of the legislative and normative acts on the internationalization of ecological problems, creation of the international conventions on preservation to the Caspian biodiversity.
The author of the this project since 1997 develops activity in this field, has realized and has created the following projects in the field of formation of cooperation between ecological organizations for the decision of regional problems.
1. Workshop " Environmental impact of main oil pipe-lines " Baku, July 8-10, 1997 (Worldbank)
By organization of Workshop the cooperation of ecological NGOs of the countries - Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Georgia, Turkey and Russia under the joint decision of ecological problems of transportation Caspian oil is created.
2). Azerbaijan-Kazakhstan project Workshop " Ecological problems of Caspian sea and ecological education in the Caspian countries " on November 18-20, 1998, (Program East - East of Soros foundation).
In the seminar the bases of cooperation of public ecological organizations of Caspian countries are incorporated, decisions on creation of the International movement " For clean Caspian ", realization training on Sustainable development and publication of text-book on Ecology for middle school is accepted.
3) Public ecological inventory of sources of emissions and outflows on the objects of oil pipelines of western route for transportation of Caspian oil (Joint project with Georgian Association of ecological and Biological Monitoring, ISAR/Azerbaijan- Horizonti, 1999)
The joint expedition of public ecological organizations ?zerbaijan-Georgia is organized and inventory of pollution sources of the environment is spent. The population, living along the route is widely informed on results of spent work. The results of the project are published as the brochure.
4). Creation of Azerbaijan centre of an International movement " For Clean Caspian " (Individual project IREX, 1999)
The purpose of the project was creation of an international ecological movement for protection and rational use of Caspian sea resources. In Azerbaijan centre " For clean Caspian " is created. The centres in Atiray (Kazakhstan), Astrakhan (Russia) and in Iran are created.
5) Creation of the project " Along the Caspian " (Individual project IREX, 2000)
The program of joint ecological expedition of the representatives of public ecological organizations of all Caspian countries is created. The purpose of expedition is realization of public-ecological inventory of sources of outflows into Caspian sea and definition of contribution of separate countries and separate kinds of pollution sources in the pollution of Caspian sea.
6) ?raining. "Problem of Sustainable development of Caspian countries" 29 May-03 June 2000, Baku. Soros foundation. Coordinator of Project- Gulnura Mehdi. The advisers Islam Mustafaev and Nizami Mamedov.
During the 5 days the 35 participants from 5 Caspian countries have heard lectures on fundamental aspects of Sustainable development of the region. Lectures and the performances are published as the book.
In all projects carried out by the author the basic ideology made internationalization of ecological problems of Caspian region. Four problems of Caspian sea has been analyzed:
· Chemical pollution
· Oil pollution
· Ecological problems, connected to rise of a level of Caspian water
* Rational use of bioresources of Caspian sea
The program of the this project was connected from the oil industry and in this area huge practical work for achievement of the purpose is carried out.
The program for maintenance of sustainability of the project is made. The program include the following work:
* Organization of the international public movement for protection of the environment along the routes of transportation of Caspian oil (with participation NGOs of Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey and Kazakhstan)
* Collection and social-ecological analysis of data on pollution of Caspian sea by drains of the running rivers both direct urban and industrial outflows. ( With participation of NGOs from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Russia, Iran and Turkmenistan)

Conclusion
The development of production and transportation of oil in the Caspian region is accompanied by increase of ecological danger of the region. Increasing of the pollution of sea water and coastal zone by oil is observed. The rivers, industrial and municipal drains has contribution in the pollution of Caspian sea. By sea flowings the pollution are distributed on the whole surface of water basin. The forecasts show, that such pollution will grow in connection with planned development of production of oil in the region. In all cases these pollution has transboundary character and threatens with danger for ecosystems of Caspian sea. By the participation of one or several countries are impossible to solve ecological problems of Caspian. For prevention of further pollution of the sea and sanitation of ecosystems by jointly action of all Caspian countries is necessary. It requires creation of cooperation of these countries at all levels, beginning of the country management up to separate public organizations, even of the separate experts. In it intersectorial cooperation of public, state and private organizations as inside the country, and in limits of Caspian countries has the importance. A concentration of the foreign investment, which are put on development of economy of these countries, should be directed partially to the decision of ecological problems. It concerns more to the oil companies. For achievement of this purpose it is necessary in details to analyze all ecological problems of Caspian sea, connected with oil production and to formulate specific problems.
During the implementation of this project just these problems were in the center of attention of the author. It was possible to the author all situations, descripted in the project and offer to finish up to the item of information of the community of Caspian countries. The author for the last 2 year participated in creation of legislative base for protection of the environment and in all cases has supported the idea of internationalization of regional ecological problems. In many cases these offers were included in the legislative and normative documents of the country, resolution of conferences and decision of working meetings. In the last years informing of the community on the questions of internationalization has strongly increased and has raised of awareness and civil activity of the population in the decision of Caspian ecological problems .
Since July 2001 actions of Caspian countries on his legal status were made active. The conflicts between Azerbaijan, Iran and Turkmenistan on the problems of development of oil fields of Caspian once again stimulates of the fastest decision of regional problems, in that number of ecological problems.
Thus, results of this project and the activity of the author within the framework of the this project, is the significant contribution in the development of the processes of internationalization of ecological problems, connected with oil production in the Caspian sea.