Round table session dedicated to discussion of the Concept of chairing of Turkmenistan in the International Fund for Saving of the Aral Sea (IFAS) was held in the conference-hall of “Yildyz” hotel.
The meeting was organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Agriculture and Water Management of our country under support of the IFAS and Programme of German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) “Transboundary management of water resources of the Central Asia”.
There are representatives of foreign policy departments, water management departments of Republic of Kazakhstan, Republic of Tajikistan and Republic of Uzbekistan, international organizations including the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), the UN Environmental Programme (UNEP), the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the UN Regional Centre for Preventative Diplomacy for the Central Asia and Regional Environment Centre of the Central Asian Countries, Regional Organization for Global Water Partnership of Central Asia and Caucuses countries, German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), Switzerland Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), the World Bank, Islamic Bank for Development as well as European Union, foreign representatives accredited in our country and others among numerous participants of the session.
Representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Agriculture and Water Management, State Committee for Natural Protection and Land Resources, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Economy and Development participated in the meeting from Turkmen side.
The main purpose of the round table was to present priority directions of chairing of our country in the IFAS for next three years as well as attraction to participation in solution of problems of the Aral Region of the UN structures, other international organizations, banks and sponsors.
The Concept of chairing of Turkmenistan in the IFAS stipulates expansion and consolidation of cooperation of the Central Asian countries in all the spectrum of environment protection based on gained successful experience, activation of closed interrelations of the states of the region with largest international organizations, with the UN, first of all, and its specialized agencies and departments in environment protection and sustainable development spheres.
In this relation, the participants of the session stated with delight the fact that owing to progressive policy of Leader of the Nation Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, Turkmenistan is the author of a range of concrete initiatives in this sphere, which were uttered from the podium of the UN General Assembly and large international forums such as World Summit “Rio+20” held in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), III UN World Conference on Disaster Reduction in Sendai (Japan), VII World Water Forum in Daegu (republic of Korea).
Rational water management is most important aspect of the policy led by President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, what is closely related with preservation of ecological stability and environment protection. Today, huge experience of implementation of modern, water-saving technologies in irrigated farming, construction and exploitation of hydro technical facilities is gained in the country. Successful realization of large scale water management projects promotes efficient development of agrarian sector, increase of volumes of grain, cotton and other agricultural production.
General programme for provision of the population with pure drinking water, under which new water purifying plants are being built and put into operation, is carried out in the country,. Work for desalination of seawater are undergoing.
After putting into operation of the first phase of Turkmen lake “Altyn Asyr”, collectors diverting drainage waters from oasis were combined in one single highly efficient hydro system. As a result, land reclamation condition of irrigated lands is being improved, discharge of drainage waters to adjoined lowlands and waterways is being prevented. These measures promotes improvement of ecological situation in the country and in the whole region.
It was mentioned that activity of Turkmenistan as chairing country in the IFAS would be aimed at combat against consequences of the Aral crisis and prevention of degradation of ecosystems in the Aral region, preservation of biodiversity and environment of the Central Asia and sustainable development of the peoples of the region.
Other sections of the round table reviewed the role of international organizations in the activity of the International Fund for Saving of the Aral Sea, discussed main directions of partnership in this agenda with attraction of experts and sponsors support. Detailed exchange of opinions took place on uttered key subjects and reports.
In particular, Regional Advisor of the UNECE Morton Krasnay, speaking of expert and legal support of cooperation on environmental issues and water diplomacy, mentioned the importance of legal tools in financing and realization of different projects. We are willing to cooperate closely with Turkmen specialists, promoting the foundation of efficient team for taking the decisions on regional level, he declared, having highlighted active role of Turkmenistan in the process of development of ecological partnership, which considerable measures were undertaken in this directions by our country that joined the UNECE Water Convention few years ago.
According to the opinion of Regional Director of GIZ Programme “Transboundary Management of Water Resources in the Central Asia” Volker Frobarth, the foreign policy status of Turkmenistan is the core factor of expansion of constructive dialog between neighbouring countries in the region, what undoubtedly would serve as reliable basis of future agreements on water resources management.
By the outcomes of the round table, plans of further cooperation of the Central Asian countries and international organizations for improvement of social and economic situation in the Aral Sea Basin were agreed.
The meeting was organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Agriculture and Water Management of our country under support of the IFAS and Programme of German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) “Transboundary management of water resources of the Central Asia”.
There are representatives of foreign policy departments, water management departments of Republic of Kazakhstan, Republic of Tajikistan and Republic of Uzbekistan, international organizations including the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), the UN Environmental Programme (UNEP), the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the UN Regional Centre for Preventative Diplomacy for the Central Asia and Regional Environment Centre of the Central Asian Countries, Regional Organization for Global Water Partnership of Central Asia and Caucuses countries, German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), Switzerland Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), the World Bank, Islamic Bank for Development as well as European Union, foreign representatives accredited in our country and others among numerous participants of the session.
Representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Agriculture and Water Management, State Committee for Natural Protection and Land Resources, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Economy and Development participated in the meeting from Turkmen side.
The main purpose of the round table was to present priority directions of chairing of our country in the IFAS for next three years as well as attraction to participation in solution of problems of the Aral Region of the UN structures, other international organizations, banks and sponsors.
The Concept of chairing of Turkmenistan in the IFAS stipulates expansion and consolidation of cooperation of the Central Asian countries in all the spectrum of environment protection based on gained successful experience, activation of closed interrelations of the states of the region with largest international organizations, with the UN, first of all, and its specialized agencies and departments in environment protection and sustainable development spheres.
In this relation, the participants of the session stated with delight the fact that owing to progressive policy of Leader of the Nation Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, Turkmenistan is the author of a range of concrete initiatives in this sphere, which were uttered from the podium of the UN General Assembly and large international forums such as World Summit “Rio+20” held in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), III UN World Conference on Disaster Reduction in Sendai (Japan), VII World Water Forum in Daegu (republic of Korea).
Rational water management is most important aspect of the policy led by President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, what is closely related with preservation of ecological stability and environment protection. Today, huge experience of implementation of modern, water-saving technologies in irrigated farming, construction and exploitation of hydro technical facilities is gained in the country. Successful realization of large scale water management projects promotes efficient development of agrarian sector, increase of volumes of grain, cotton and other agricultural production.
General programme for provision of the population with pure drinking water, under which new water purifying plants are being built and put into operation, is carried out in the country,. Work for desalination of seawater are undergoing.
After putting into operation of the first phase of Turkmen lake “Altyn Asyr”, collectors diverting drainage waters from oasis were combined in one single highly efficient hydro system. As a result, land reclamation condition of irrigated lands is being improved, discharge of drainage waters to adjoined lowlands and waterways is being prevented. These measures promotes improvement of ecological situation in the country and in the whole region.
It was mentioned that activity of Turkmenistan as chairing country in the IFAS would be aimed at combat against consequences of the Aral crisis and prevention of degradation of ecosystems in the Aral region, preservation of biodiversity and environment of the Central Asia and sustainable development of the peoples of the region.
Other sections of the round table reviewed the role of international organizations in the activity of the International Fund for Saving of the Aral Sea, discussed main directions of partnership in this agenda with attraction of experts and sponsors support. Detailed exchange of opinions took place on uttered key subjects and reports.
In particular, Regional Advisor of the UNECE Morton Krasnay, speaking of expert and legal support of cooperation on environmental issues and water diplomacy, mentioned the importance of legal tools in financing and realization of different projects. We are willing to cooperate closely with Turkmen specialists, promoting the foundation of efficient team for taking the decisions on regional level, he declared, having highlighted active role of Turkmenistan in the process of development of ecological partnership, which considerable measures were undertaken in this directions by our country that joined the UNECE Water Convention few years ago.
According to the opinion of Regional Director of GIZ Programme “Transboundary Management of Water Resources in the Central Asia” Volker Frobarth, the foreign policy status of Turkmenistan is the core factor of expansion of constructive dialog between neighbouring countries in the region, what undoubtedly would serve as reliable basis of future agreements on water resources management.
By the outcomes of the round table, plans of further cooperation of the Central Asian countries and international organizations for improvement of social and economic situation in the Aral Sea Basin were agreed.
