“This is not a national level problem, not a tactical one, but a strategic task of global importance. Therefore, it is important to move on to practical actions, including updating the organizational mechanisms of the Fund. This will enhance the applied nature of its activities. In our opinion, the role of the Fund should be strengthened as a central regional platform within which issues of water, ecology and sustainable development could be effectively addressed in the interests of all countries of Central Asia. The accumulated interaction experience cannot be lost. According to the observations of international experts, in recent years, national priorities have prevailed in the water policy of the states of the region, and international aspects, that is, cooperation with each other, taking into account the interests of neighboring countries, have faded into the background. In their opinion, this is the main reason for water and energy imbalances, violations of the established procedure for managing the resources of transboundary rivers, and lack of attention to environmental consequences. In these challenging circumstances, it is critical to try to achieve, at least partially, harmonization of our water strategies, which will also allow us to scale up the most successful water conservation practices. At last year’s Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asia, I proposed to adopt a Framework Convention on Water Use in accordance with international standards. Such a Convention would make it possible to consolidate agreed principles of multilateral interaction and increase the efficiency of transboundary water use. “Please pay attention to this proposal,” said the Head of our state.
Kassym-Jomart Tokayev called the digitalization of the water sector an urgent task, in particular, the introduction of a unified automated monitoring system in the Syrdarya and Amu Darya basins, which will ensure transparency and reliability of data.
— Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan have begun automation of ten sections in the Syrdarya basin. It would be possible to scale up this experience throughout the entire Aral Sea basin. The issue of further institutional development of the Fund remains relevant. I think that this process has been somewhat delayed. As a priority measure, it is proposed to complete the formation of the Interstate Energy Commission. Practice shows that coordination of actions in the field of energy plays a big role in the stable, reliable water supply of our countries. Therefore, in our opinion, it is important to synchronize the meetings of the water and energy commissions of the Fund. We believe it is possible to first launch the activities of the Interstate Energy Commission in connection with the Syrdarya River basin. In the future, as interaction mechanisms are developed, it will be possible to expand this format to cover the entire Aral Sea basin. We hope that such a step-by-step approach will ensure a balance of interests of all states in the region,” noted the President of Kazakhstan.
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev spent meeting of the Council of Heads of State – founders of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea. Previously in Akorda profits participants of the meeting.
The head of state said that Kazakhstan and WHO developed A roadmap to improve the well-being of residents of the Aral Sea region.
Also Kassym-Jomart Tokayev stopped on the positive results of joint efforts to restore the ecosystem of the Northern Aral Sea.
