As part of the historic UN 2023 Water Conference in New York, the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea for the first time spoke from the rostrum of the UN General Assembly. The Chairman of the Executive Committee of IFAS, Mr. Sulton Rahimzoda, presented the Joint Statement of the States of Central Asia (Republic of Kazakhstan, Republic of Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Republic of Uzbekistan).
Modern challenges, such as the impact of climate change, the reduction in the volume and area of glaciers, as well as the ecological catastrophe of the drying up of the Aral Sea, which resulted in the formation of 5.5 million hectares of deserts, have a negative impact on human health and the condition of ecosystems throughout the region. These challenges, coupled with the growing demand for water, energy and food resources, require decisive action to ensure the rational use of the region’s water resources.
Considering the role of water resources in achieving sustainable development of Central Asia, and the importance of transboundary water cooperation in ensuring peace, stability and prosperity, the countries of Central Asia are striving to establish close mutual beneficial cooperation on the principles of good neighborliness, mutual respect, support and consideration of the interests of all parties.
The UN 2023 Water Conference was a timely and important platform for informing the world community about the existing problems in the region and attracting attention and resources to solve them, demonstrating the solidarity of the countries of the region on issues related to water resources, and their readiness to jointly confront modern and future challenges.
The Executive Committee of IFAS, on behalf of the Central Asian states, announced at the plenary session of the UN Conference about the relevant obligations jointly adopted by the countries of the region at the national, regional and international levels.
The “Joint Statement” of the countries of Central Asia was agreed upon at the meeting of the IFAS Board on 28 November 2022 in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.
