50th MEETING OF INTERSTATE COMMISSION FOR WATER COORDINATION (ICWC)
The 50th meeting of ICWC was held on 29 May 2008, Bishkek, under the chairmanship of B.T. Koshmatov, Director General, Department for Water Resources at the Ministry of Agriculture, Water Resources and Processing Industry of the Kyrgyz Republic.
The following items were entered on the agenda of the meeting:
- On confirmation of limits on water withdrawals from the Amudarya and Syrdarya river channels for the vegetation period 2008 and agreeing of predicted operation modes for reservoir cascades (BWO “Amudarya” and BWO “Syrdarya” responsible).
- On confirmation of the ADB RETA 6163 documents.
- Consideration and confirmation of the draft Statute on ICWC, draft Procedure for Rotation of ICWC Executive Bodies and Their Leaders, and draft Agreement on Strengthening the Organizational Framework for Management, Protection and Development of Water Resources from Interstate Sources in the Aral Sea Basin.
- On work experience of the Joint Chu-Talas Commission.
- On agenda and venue of the next 51st ICWC meeting.
Additional items:
- Discussion of the ADB RETA 6163 results and the new draft program for 2008-2010 (included at request of the ADB Regional Office).
- On establishment of a regional training network for high- and middle-level specialists of water, energy and environmental organizations in the Aral Sea basin countries based on the ICWC Training Center (included at request of SIC ICWC).
ICWC members took into account the information of BWO “Amudarya” and BWO “Syrdarya” on the water situation in the vegetation period.
Based on the current highly tense water situation due to the catastrophic water shortage, ICWC members deem it necessary to convene within the shortest possible time a work meeting with representatives of energy agencies in Central Asian states to take necessary measures.
The meeting participants agreed to preliminary reduction of water withdrawal limits for the remaining vegetation period 2008 by 10% in Amudarya and by 25% in Syrdarya. Uzbekistan agrees to reduction of limits by 10% in both the rivers.
ICWC members decided to regard the work of the Working Group on Development of Rules for Fulfillment of Procedural Obligations and Recommendations for Improvement of the Rules for Regulation and Management of Water and Energy Resources in the Syrdarya River Basin completed. The draft Rules will be submitted to the ministries (agencies) of Central Asian states for approval.
The participants deem the work on clarification of channel losses in the Amudarya mid- and downstream completed. At the meeting, analytical report was approved. Values given in the report were taken as a basis for prospective work on Amudarya river management.
The participants approved the prepared methodology for development and agreeing detailed methodical recommendations for basin-wide costs accounting, data collection and assessment of actual damage from water use regimes.
The register of interstate objects in the Amudarya and Syrdarya river basins was forwarded for revision.
ICWC members agreed the draft Statute on ICWC.
For the draft Procedure for Rotation of ICWC Executive Bodies and Their Leaders, ICWC members should present within a month their suggestions on items not agreed, after which they should submit it for approval along with the Statute on ICWC and Agreement on Strengthening the Organizational Framework for Management, Protection and Development of Water Resources from Interstate Sources in the Aral Sea Basin.
The participants approved the work experience of the Joint Chu-Talas Commission.
The next 51st ICWC meeting is expected to be held in Kazakhstan in September 2008.
CENTRAL ASIAN INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC-PRACTICAL CONFERENCE
“CLIMATE CHANGE, WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT, GOVERNANCE AND
CAPACITY BUILDING ISSUES IN CENTRAL ASIA”
Within the framework of the preparatory process toward the 5th World Water Forum, International Conference “Climate change, Water Resources Management, Governance and Capacity Building Issues in Central Asia” took place in Bishkek on 28-29 May 2008, with the participation of more than 200 people from 13 countries.
The meeting was hosted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Water Management and Processing Industry of Kyrgyzstan, the Ministry of Environment and Forestry of Turkey, the Interstate Commission for Water Coordination in Central Asia, and the Global Water Partnership for Central Asia and Caucasus.
The conference brought together ministries and chiefs of water management organizations in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Turkey, representatives of Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia, and delegations from the 5th WWF Secretariat, EC IFAS, SIC ICWC and CWP for Central Asia and Caucasus.
The conference program consisted of a plenary meting and round tables:
- Climate change effect on water resources in Central Asia;
- Basin management and transboundary cooperation;
- Water resources governance (organizational aspects of efficient water management);
- Capacity building and education;
- Water as a historical arena for uniting civilizations.
The participants of the conference discussed the issues related to possible climate change effect on water resources in the region, transboundary water resources management, institutional and legal framework for effective cooperation, capacity building and strengthening of regional cooperation in the context of the themes of the 5th World Water Forum.
Based on the conference results, the final document was adopted.
All the conference materials will soon be published at the CAWater-Info portal at: www.cawater-info.net/5wwf/bishkek08/
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