The strategic partnership between the five Caspian littoral states in the field of protection of the marine environment could serve as a model for analogous co-operation and minimisation of pollution in the Black Sea and in the Mediterranean\', the vice-president of the World Bank for Europe and Middle East Shigeo Katsu mentioned at the Caspian Environmental Investment Forum in Baku today. According to Shigeo Katsu, the World Bank is supportive of protection of the environmental protection in the region and is prepared to continue providing practical assistance for this business. The head of the Caspian Environmental Programme Hamid Ghafarzade from Iran spoke about composition of the Caspian Protection Strategic Plan for five years. The strategy is estimated at $170 mn. \'Nearly as much as $10-11 mn of the needed funds have been taken from international finance institutions for implementation of the incorporated projects\', agai Ghafarzade mentioned. Agai Ghafarzade went further to say that the strategy was aimed at steady use of natural resources, protection of biological diversity, maintenance of steady management of the littoral zones, prevention of marine pollution and improvement of the quality of water. According to agai Ghafarzade, approximately $14 mn has been released for the CEP projects including $5 mn from the EU funds and $8.5 mn from UNEP and UNDP. \'The second phase of the programme is beginning next year and we think that $6 mn will be raised for it from Tacis, UNDP and other finance institutions. The World Bank, too, has provided a portfolio of priority investments\', agai Ghafarzade mentioned. (Azer-Press)