INTERNATIONAL FUND FOR AEA SAVING (IFAS) BOARD MEETING
International Fund for Aral Sea Saving meeting was held on August 23, 2002
in Dushanbe.
Meeting agenda included the following questions:
- About realization of the programs and projects connected to Aral Sea problems
solution at the expense of all sources of financing.
- About formation of IFAS means at the expense of payments of the state-founders,
country-donors and international organizations.
- About the basic directions of the Aral Sea basin program for 2002-2010.
- About realization of meeting with donors on the Aral Sea problems.
- About draft agenda of the next meeting of the Head of the States of Central
Asia on Aral Sea problems.
- About approval of IFAS Board work plan for 2002-2003.
- About organization of Regional Center of Hydrology under aegis of IFAS
Executive Committee.
- About activity of Interstate Sustainable Development Commission.
EC IFAS representatives submitted information on all agenda questions, which
was taken into consideration by meeting participants.
In all states of Central Asia in 2000-2002 years the measures on realizing
tasks of ecological conditions improvement were carried out at the own expense.
IFAS Executive Committee and its divisions in the states of Central Asia have
directed the basic efforts to providing social support of the population and
realization of IFAS Board decisions.
Republic of Kazakhstan. On 01.07.2002 payments in amount 221,3 mln. tenge came
to the fund.
Kyrgyz Republic. Means under item "member payments to IFAS" in amount
4,0 mln. and 7,6 mln. som were allocated of co-financing under GEF project.
On 01.08.2002 the volumes of capital investments were more than 364,4 mln. som
(7,2 mln. USD).
Turkmenistan. Government of Turkmenistan at the expense of all sources financed
measures and works, oriented on improvement of ecological, sanitary-epidemiological,
and reclamation conditions in Turkmen Aral Sea zone in amount 202495,0 mln.
manat that is equivalent of 38,94 thousand USA dollars, from them at the expense
of the current payments of Turkmenistan is 32598,5 mln. manat or 5933 thousand
USA dollars were foreseen. Works were executed in amount 32582,5 mln. manat
(5931 th. USA dollars).
Republic of Tajikistan. Payments in amount 473,5 th. somoni have came to the
fund.
Republic of Uzbekistan. For 2000-2002 years payments in amount 11625 mln. sum
have came to the fund.
All these means are directed on constructions of priority objects of industrial
and social function, which list is coordinated with Government of Republic and
approved EC IFAS.
President of Republic of Tajikistan E.Sh. Rakhmonov was elected as IFAS President
in February 2002. As agreed with the Head of the State-IFAS founders S.M. Aslov
was assigned as EC IFAS Chairman. EC IFAS carries out work on organizational
maintenance of staff and search of means of the donors. In connection with IFAS
President request World bank has allocated from GEF project 100 thousand USD
for technical assistance.
Considering that the program of urgent measures on overcoming Aral Sea crisis
was developed in the beginning of 90-ies years of last century, it becomes obvious
that necessity emerged to clear up priorities available before.
Taking into account success of the countries in development of technical and
economic bases of national and regional strategies for water resources management
and environment in the Aral Sea basin, it is necessary to ascertain necessity
of concentration of experts’ effort of region on preparation of long-term
interstate agreements on rational and sustainable use of water-power resources
of Aral Sea basin. The achievement of such agreements will allow basin countries
to reach new level of mutually advantageous cooperation and sustainable development
of region.
During realization of the program of urgent measures and development of interstate
cooperation strategy for rational use of water resources management and environment,
sharp necessity of irrigation infrastructure rehabilitation and, in particular,
water-power structures.
Agriculture is a basis of economy of the states of Central Asia. The share of
agriculture in gross national income of the countries reaches more than 30 %.
Thus, achievement of stable yields is possible only under providing sufficient
irrigation. Presence and availability of water resources appreciably provides
stability of agricultural production. In this respect supervision and control
of water resources play a lasting role. Only availability of timely and reliable
information about snow-ice supplies and monitoring of water objects will allow
to correctly predict accessible water resources, so to predict year water availability
agricultural cropping pattern as well as their yield capacity.
Nature use in the countries of Central Asia, in particular management of water
and land resources becomes complicated by spontaneous natural phenomena, such
as floods, mudflow, landslides etc. Regarding this necessity of development
and realization of program of measures directed on liquidation of reasons and
overcoming of consequences of such processes, bringing irreparable loss to economy
of the countries emerged.
Each of the Central-Asian countries has own strategy of sustainable development.
Common feature of strategy is their orientation on increase of population living
standards. The new sovereign states of Central Asia alongside with the large
ecological and economic problems face also complex social problems. The preparation
and realization of programs of social rehabilitation, perfection of public health
service systems, creation of new workplaces is one of the main priorities of
all countries of region. The assistance in realization of these programs is
urgent IFAS task.
The major factor of strengthening of close cooperation in various areas, including
water resources and environment management, is availability of interstate communications
and interstate organizations capable to realize joint projects. Strengthening
of technical base of such organizations, increase of their legal status demand
significant efforts of all countries of region.
Urgent questions of IFAS activity priority directions are as follows:
- Development of regional and national programs of environmental measures
in flow zone.
- Development regional both national water conservation programs and reduction
of water discharge in economic branches.
- Development of international program of sanitary-ecological improvement
of populated points and natural ecosystems of Priaralie.
- Development of international program of restoration of ecological sustainability
and biological efficiency of valuable natural ecosystems of Priaralie included
in natural objects list subject to international protection.
The statement of new Aral Sea basin Program priorities requires activation
of work with the international organizations and country-donors.
In this connection IFAS Executive Committee regards necessary after the statement
by the Head of the States of ASBP priorities to organize meeting of donors on
Aral Sea basin problems at the end of November of the current year. This question
was previously discussed with the representatives of World bank, European Union,
Asian bank of development, USAID, and other organizations.
It is supposed that EC IFAS together with Governments of the states of Central
Asia till November 2002 on approved priorities, on which basis new ASBP will
be developed, to prepare the projects, technical proposals, and other necessary
materials. The notification of the donors and other preliminary measures will
be carried out by EC IFAS at once after IFAS Board decision approval about realization
of given meeting.
In this connection, the meeting participants have taken decision to present
for consideration of the next meeting of the Head of the States of Central Asia
on Aral Sea basin problems in the following questions:
- Approval of basic directions of the Aral Sea basin program for 2002-2010
years (as agreed with governments of the countries);
- About maintenance of organizational EC IFAS activity;
- Adoption of Dushanbe Declaration of the Head of the States of Central Asia
on Aral Sea basin problems.
In view of the submitted offers and remarks of Governments of the state-IFAS
founders IFAS Board meetings activity plan for 2002- 2003 was made, which was
authorized at given meeting.
The meeting participants also have taken decision to form the Regional Center
of Hydrology (RCH) under aegis of IFAS Executive Committee. EC IFAS Chairman
was charged to approve Provision about RCH after the coordination with governments
of CAR countries.
The question on RCH organization have been discussing between the Swiss mission
on the Aral Sea, EC IFAS, and national hydrometeorological services of region
more than two years. In February 2001 hydrometeorological of Central Asia countries
have taken decision on technical cooperation within RCH frameworks. In July
2002 Swiss mission on request of the majority of national hydrometeorological
services of region has addressed with official request for organization of this
center under EC IFAS aegis. RCH activity for 10-15 of years will be financed
by the Swiss Government.
INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM «TO INTEGRATED WATER CATCHMENTS MANAGEMENT:
ENHANCEMENT OF INTERACTION BETWEEN SCIENTISTS, POLITICIANS AND WATER USERS»
International Symposium was held on August 18-22, 2002 in Calmar, Sweden.
It was organized under joint program of UNESCO and WMO «Hydrology for
Environment, Life, and Policy» (HELP), and also by IHP Swedish Committee
and Swedish Research Council.
On this symposium Central Asia was represented by A.M. Shapiro (SIC ICWC)
and Yu.S. Kamalov (Protection Union of Aral Sea and Amudarya River).
Symposium statement underlined that water is a key factor for insuring food
security, improving human health, and decreasing poverty level.
In order to reach targets established by UN Millennium Declaration it is necessary
to estimate future development scenarios by integrated water and land management
as well as find acceptable balance between community needs and nature with involvement
of water users, politicians, mangers, and scientists.
Symposium materials contain some successful approaches to sustainable water
and land management:
- Creation, extension, and use of structure for more close collaboration
of experts, water managers, water users, and scientists.
- Scientific community stimulation for development of water users’
participation methods in decision-making process.
- Linkage of physical and non-physical scientific information, which defines
risks and uncertainties, assessment of scenarios, potential impact on future
management policies and so on.
- Support of actions based on well-informed and balanced decisions in water
use sphere.
Further efforts should be directed on application of positive experience of
HELP program around the world. Symposium recommendations will be included in
agenda for discussing on the World Summit on sustainable development in Johannesburg
(South Africa) in August 2002 and 3rd World Water Forum in March 2003 in Kioto,
Japan.
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