Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov held a meeting with members of the Board of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea, the chairmanship of which Kazakhstan is completing this year.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Tajikistan Sulaimon Ziyozoda, Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan Tangryguly Atakhalyev, Advisor to the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shukhrat Ganiev, Minister of Water Resources of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Khamraev, Deputy Minister – Director of the Water Resources Service under the Ministry of Water Resources, Agriculture and Processing Industry of the Kyrgyz Republic Almaz Zheenaliev, Chairman of the Executive Committee of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea Askhat Orazbay, as well as heads of relevant ministries and agencies of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Issues of further development of regional cooperation in the water sector, improving the effectiveness of the Fund’s activities, as well as preparations for the meeting of the Council of Heads of State – founders of the IFAS, which will be held on April 22 of the current year in Astana, were considered.

Olzhas Bektenov emphasized that issues of saving the Aral Sea and sustainable management of transboundary water resources are among the priorities outlined by the Head of State Kassym-Jomart Tokayev at the V meeting of the National Kurultai. It was noted that the IFAS has remained a key regional platform for interaction among Central Asian states in the water, environmental and socio-economic spheres for more than three decades.

During the meeting, the importance of digitalization of water accounting and management was emphasized.

“We are referring to the phased introduction of a unified automated system for accounting, monitoring and distribution of water resources in the basins of the Syr Darya and Amu Darya rivers. I am confident that digitalization and accounting will ensure transparency of water use. The availability of reliable data and joint monitoring are the basis of trust between states and make it possible to increase the efficiency of water resources management,” Olzhas Bektenov noted.

As part of forming a modern legal and regulatory framework, Kazakhstan advocates for the development of a Framework Convention of Central Asia on water use. The document should enshrine agreed principles of rational use of water resources, prevention of transboundary damage and development of the exchange of hydrological information.

President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev proposed the creation of an International Water Organization within the UN structure to address global water challenges. This will make it possible to consolidate efforts and attract additional resources, including for the implementation of regional projects.

Particular attention during the meeting was paid to improving the organizational structure and legal framework of the IFAS in order to increase the effectiveness of the Fund’s work, strengthen coordination among its institutions and ensure effective implementation of decisions taken.

The importance of developing coordinated approaches on key issues ahead of the upcoming meeting of the Council of Heads of State – founders of the IFAS was also emphasized.

Following the meeting, the parties confirmed their interest in continuing constructive dialogue, developing water diplomacy and seeking joint solutions aimed at sustainable management of the region’s water resources and improving the environmental situation in the Aral Sea basin.

#Ecology #International Cooperation #President's instruction #water resources

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