ASHGABAT (TCA) — Multilateral consultations on the development of the UN Special Programme for the countries of the Aral Sea basin took place in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan on December 19. The meeting was organized in accordance with the final Joint Communique of the Summit of the Founders of IFAS held in Turkmenistan last August and with the Resolutions on “Cooperation between the United Nations and the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea” (IFAS) adopted by the UN General Assembly at the initiative of Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov in 2018 and 2019, the State News Agency of Turkmenistan reported.
The representatives of the IFAS Executive Committee, UN agencies and specialized agencies, other international organizations and embassies accredited in Turkmenistan, specialists and experts from relevant structures of Central Asian countries attended the meeting.
The meeting participants underlined the importance of the initiative to develop the UN Special Programme for the countries of the Aral Sea basin, put forward by President Berdymukhammedov at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development – Rio+20, as well as at sessions of the UN General Assembly and other major international forums.
The constructive position and consistent steps taken by Turkmenistan in this direction, including in frames of its presidency over the IFAS in 2017-2019, are widely supported by the international community.
During the meeting, special attention was paid to such priority aspects of interstate cooperation as the development and implementation of the long-term strategy for the efficient management of water resources, environmental protection and adaptation to climate change, as well as specific measures in these areas.
The meeting participants considered the opportunities for the implementation of projects and programmes jointly with international organizations and financial institutions with the aim to improve water management, environmental and socio-economic situation in the Aral Sea basin.
The participants expressed confidence that the initiatives put forward at the meeting will be reflected in the final document prepared by experts, submitted to the Central Asian states and relevant UN structures for consideration.
