THE REGULAR 85TH MEETING OF INTERSTATE COMMISSION FOR WATER COORDINATION IN CENTRAL ASIA
On November 1-2, 2023 Uzbekistan hosted the regular 85th meeting of Interstate Commission for Water Coordination (ICWC) of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Republic of Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Republic of Uzbekistan.
The meeting was held under the chairmanship of Sh. Khamraev, member of ICWC from Uzbekistan with participation of ICWC members from Kazakhstan N. Nurjigitov, Tajikistan D. Shoimzoda, Turkmenistan D. Gendjiev. The heads of executive bodies participated in the meeting: M. Makhramov, BWO Amu Darya, O. Kholkhujaev, BWO Syr Darya, D. Ziganshina, SIC ICWC, U. Nazarov Secretariat, and invited persons.
The following issues were included in agenda:
- Results of the use of water withdrawal limits and operation regimes of the reservoir cascades in the Syr Darya and Amu Darya River basins during the growing season 2023.
- Approval of the country water withdrawal limits and forecast operation regimes of the reservoir cascades in the Syr Darya and Amu Darya River basins for the non-growing season 2023-2024.
- Progress and results of fulfillment of the initiatives put forward by the Heads of IFAS Founder States at the summit in Turkmenbashi (August 2018), and the tasks before ICWC following the summit in Dushanbe in September 2023.
- Agenda and venue of the regular 86th ICWC meeting.
On the first item, BWO Amu Darya and BWO Syr Darya reported on implementation of water withdrawal limits and operation regimes of reservoir cascades in the Syr Darya and Amu Darya River basins for the growing season 2023.
On the second item, the heads of BWO Amu Darya and BWO Syr Darya made their proposals on the country water withdrawal limits and forecast operation regimes of reservoir cascades in the Amu Darya and Syr Darya River basins for non-growing season 2023-2024.
On the third item, Director of SIC ICWC, D. Ziganshina reported on progress in implementation of the proposals and initiatives voiced at the Summit of the Head of IFAS Founder States in Turkmenbashi.
The following future tasks were set: (1) complete the work on institutional and legal improvement of IFAS (2) develop and implement the joint projects and programs as part of ASBP-4, including the Regional Environmental Program for Sustainable Development in Central Asia (REPSD CA); (3) raise the priority of water in national and regional strategies and development plans; (4) strengthen regional cooperation to ensure environmental, food and energy security, climate resilience and socio-economic development, taking into account an integrated and inter-sectoral approach; (5) take concrete measures for comprehensive solution of the consequences of the Aras Sea crisis; (6) enhance interaction and coordination on climate agenda; (7) introduction of resource-saving and “green” technologies at the national and regional levels; (8) facilitate universal and equitable access to clean water and sanitation for all; (9) develop an integrated and mutually beneficial mechanism for water and energy cooperation in Central Asia; (9) take concerted measures on wider application of advanced information and communication technologies in water management, including development of databases and information exchanges in water sector and ecology; (11) promote and support regional youth movements; (12) intensify collaboration with the UN system and fulfill commitments made in the "Joint Statement of the Central Asian States at the UN 2023 Water Conference".
After discussion, the relevant decisions have been made on all items.
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