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No. 4 (128) March 2007



46th ORDINARY MEETING OF THE INTERSTATE COMMISSION FOR WATER COORDINATION

The 46th ordinary meeting of the Interstate Commission for Water Coordination in Central Asia (ICWC) was held on 8-10 March 2007 in Ashkhabad under the chairmanship of Minister of Water Resources of Turkmenistan Myratgeldy Akmammedov.

The following items were on the agenda:

  1. Progress in the implementation of the limits on water withdrawals in the non-vegetation period 2006/2007 and confirmation of revised operation modes for reservoir cascades in the Amudarya and Syrdarya river basins (BWO “Amudarya” and BWO “Syrdarya” responsible).
  2. Water allocation on interstate small rivers (SIC ICWC responsible)
  3. Results of the ADB RETA 6163 for 2006, work program for 2007 and consideration of a draft Agreement on Water and Energy Resources Use in the Syrdarya river basin.
  4. Rotation of ICWC executive bodies (ICWC Secretariat responsible)
  5. Progress in the preparation of the Central Asian International Scientific-Practical Conference dedicated to the 15th anniversary of ICWC, Almaty, Kazakhstan, April 2007 (SIC ICWC responsible).
  6. Information on the progress in signing of a Quadripartite Protocol on Water and Energy Resources Use in the Syrdarya River Basin for 2007 and first quarter of 2008 (BWO “Syrdarya” responsible)
  7. Venue and agenda of the 47th ordinary ICWC meeting.

Additional items:

  1. Results of Phase 1 of the ‘Central Asia Regional Water Information Base (CAREWIB)’ Project
  2. Assistance to the IFAS Executive Committee (IFAS EC) and GWP for Central Asia and Caucasus (GWP CACENA) in carrying out activities under the Asia-Pacific Water Forum (IFAS EC, Regional Board of GWP CACENA responsible)

ICWC members took into account the information of BWO “Amudarya” and BWO “Syrdarya” on the implementation of water withdrawal limits and operation modes for reservoir cascades in the non-vegetation period 2006/2007. A proposal of BWO “Amudarya” and BWO “Syrdarya” for reduction of water withdrawals from the Syrdarya and Amudarya rivers for April by 15% of 2006 limits was accepted. Both BWOs were instructed to develop and submit water withdrawal limits for the vegetation period 2007 based on revised forecasts from Hydromet Services for approval at the next meeting.

The meeting participants took into account the information on water allocation on interstate small rivers (component “Small rivers” of the IWRM-Fergana Project).

At the meeting, the results of the activities under the ADB RETA 6163 “Improved Management of Shared Water Resources in Central Asia” for 2006 were approved. It was noted that a new draft Agreement on Water and Energy Resources Use in the Syrdarya River Basin had in general been agreed by the working groups apart from items 6.2 and 8.3. These items will be agreed by representatives of the national groups by the next ICWC meeting with a view to final adjustment of the Agreement text. ICWC members also approved the Work Program of the ADB RETA 6163 for 2007 with account of remarks and proposals.

The draft Regulation on rotation of ICWC bodies submitted by the ICWC Secretariat was taken into account in view of remarks and proposals. The Secretariat together with SIC ICWC was instructed to insert within two weeks the respective draft into the text of the “Regulation on ICWC” with detailing of rotation times, financing terms and locations. The new draft “Regulation on ICWC” should be submitted to all ICWC members for agreeing and should be submitted for consideration at the next ICWC meeting.

The meeting participants took into account the information from the working group of the Organizing Committee about the work done on the preparation for the jubilee conference.

ICWC members took into account the information of BWO “Syrdarya” on the progress in the preparation of a draft Quadripartite Protocol on Water and Energy Resources Use in the Syrdarya River Basin for 2007 and first quarter of 2008.

The participants noted considerable activities completed under the CAREWIB Project in regard to creation of a Portal for water and environmental issues in Central Asia and an Information System. It was deemed expedient to further continue activities under the project areas stated in the “Concept for Development of Activities” with accent on development of the national information systems (except the Republic of Tajikistan). The significance of the project in regard to increasing the confidence, openness of operation of water management organizations and water users in the basin, opportunities for continual information updating on all aspects of ICWC activities, as well as popularization of ICWC activities (except the Republic of Tajikistan) were noted. ICWC members expressed gratitude to the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation for active participation and donor support.

The participants of the meeting took into account the information of the IFAS Executive Committee on the Asia-Pacific Water Forum. Preparatory activities on the Asia-Pacific Water Forum will be carried out in the region by IFAS EC and GWP CACENA together with ICWC members and executive bodies. In this connection, ICWC departments were instructed to assist the IFAS EC and GWP CACENA to carry out these activities.

It was decided to hold the next 47th ICWC meeting on 24-25 April 2007 in Almaty.

WORKING MEETING ON DISCUSSION OF THE REGIONAL WATER POLICY

A regular meeting of the working groups on discussion of the regional water policy under the ADB RETA “Improved Management of Shared Water Resources in Central Asia” took place in Ashkhabad, Turkmenistan, 8-10 March 2007. The meeting was attended by ICWC members, representatives of the national working groups (NWG) and members of the regional working group (except United Control Center “Energy”).

The participants of the meeting were welcomed by Minister of water Resources of Turkmenistan M. Akmammedov, ICWC members A.D. Ryabtsev, M.Y. Khamidov and S.R. Khamrayev, acting as Chairman of the IFAS Executive Committee S.N. Rakhimov. The speakers noted the importance of activities carried out with the assistance of ADB, and the need for continuing the cooperation under the mentioned project with a view to searching for mutually acceptable solutions for water resources management in the region.

ICWC members informed the participants about changes in the membership of NWGs. The Ministry of Land Reclamation and Water Resources of Tajikistan nominated A.M. Zoirov to the Government for approval to act as a new leader of the Tajik NWG. Upon the submission by S.R. Khamrayev, R.Z. Srazhitdinov and R.Kh. Tashev were assigned members of the Uzbek NWG. At this meeting, the interests of the Kazakh NWG were represented by N.K. Kipshabayev and M.K. Bekniyazov by proxy of ICWC member.

At the meeting, ICWC members discussed and approved the results of the completed activities under the project for 2006 and the work program for 2007. At the suggestion of the participants, amendments were inserted into item 5 in the work program: the title was changed to “Revision of channel losses in mid- and downstream of the Amudarya river”. The Tajik NWG also suggested expanding the terminology reference book.

Members of NWGs and RWG will take measures to implement the proposed plan by the end of 2007, taking into account that funding of this project will not be further continued. The participants took into consideration the information of Director SIC ICWC Prof. V.A. Dukhovny on that the ADB will continue financing activities under regional programs at suggestions of ICWC, provided successful implementation of the main outcomes in the work plan for 2007.

For further implementation of activities, subgroups of specialists from the five countries will be established:

  • on development of rules for implementation of procedural obligations and making recommendations for improvement of rules for water and energy resources regulation and management in the Syrdarya river basin: one member from each NWG, M.Kh. Khamidov was charged to lead the work;
  • on revision of channel losses in the mid- and downstream of the Amudarya river: one member from each NWG, Y.Kh. Khudaybergenov was charged to lead the work;
  • on development and agreeing of detail methodical recommendations for recording of basin-wide costs, gathering of data and assessment of actual damage from water use regimes (as suggested by the Tajik NWG, “and energy resources” to be added): one member from each NWG and one representative from each BWO, representative of Tajikistan to be charged to lead the work;
  • on revision of the draft Agreement on Strengthening the Organizational Framework for Transboundary Water Resources Management, Protection and Development (as suggested by the Tajik NWG, “water resources of interstate sources” to be written instead of “transboundary water resources”) in the Aral Sea Basin: one representative from each basin state and one representative from each BWO, Prof. V.A. Dukhovny was charged to lead the work;
  • on preparation of an inventory of interstate objects: one member from each NWG and one representative from each BWO, D.R. Ziganshina responsible.

NWG members will prepare their vision on implementation of items in the work plan for the current year and submit to the next ICWC meeting for consideration.

The draft Agreement on Water and Energy Resources Use in the Syrdarya River Basin” was discussed in view of remarks of the Kazakh NWG and Tajik NWG. It was noted that items 6.2 and 8.3.-8.4. in this Agreement should be additionally agreed.

Under item 6.2., it was decided to include, in the text of the Agreement, water resources allocation in accordance with a correcting note to the revised scheme of integrated water resources use and protection in the Syrdarya river basin, and give an extract from the scheme of water allocation among the states in Annex. To agree items 8.3-8.4 in the draft Agreement, a meeting of members of NWGs for four countries will be organized in Tashkent in the first ten days of April 2007.

It was decided to continue the work on the draft Agreement on Water and Energy Resources Use in the Amudarya River Basin.