ASHGABAT (TCA) — Cooperation in sustainable development and management of water resources of Central Asia was the subject of a regional meeting held under the chairmanship of Turkmenistan in the International Fund for Saving of Aral Sea (IFAS) in 2017–2019, the State News Agency of Turkmenistan reported.
The forum was held on November 13-14 and organized by IFAS Executive Committee and the Central Asian Regional Ecology Centre (CAREC) with the support of the Turkmen Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Representatives of the Executive Committee and structural divisions of IFAS in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan including Inter-Agency Committee for Sustainable Development (IASD) and Inter-State Coordination Water Commission (ISCWC) as well as structural departments of the United Nations, German Economic Cooperation (GIZ) and other regional and international organizations took part in the meeting.
The meeting was forestalled by the signing ceremony of the Memorandum of Understanding between IFAS Executive Committee and German Economic Cooperation (GIZ). This document is related to the realization of the Programme of Transboundary Management of Water Resources in Central Asia, which is aimed at the support of the countries of the region in establishment of efficient mechanisms of cooperation in water sector based on universal standards of international law and world practice.
Also, the Memorandum on Cooperation between IFAS Executive Committee and Central Asian Regional Ecology Centre stipulating joint fulfillment of the projects “Water, Education and Cooperation” (Smart Water Project) and Central Asian Dialog for Use of the capabilities of multisectoral financing by the enforcement of interrelation “water – energy – food” (Nexus) was signed.
The first project, implemented with the support of the US Agency for International Development (USAID), is related to the training and improvement of qualification of the managers and specialists of water industry, scientific personnel in Aral Sea countries.
The Nexus project, financed by the European Union and realized by CAREC in cooperation with the International Union for Conservation of Nature, is to consolidate the partnership of Central Asian countries in solution of the issues of water supply, energy and food security.
