UNESCO notes importance of sustainable water resources management in Central Asia

Turkmenistan, Ashgabat, June 25 / Trend, H. Hasanov / UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova has noted the importance of sustainable water resources management in Central Asia in his message to Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhammadov. 'The determination with which you carry out reforms aimed at improving the quality of education and modernisation of the education system, protection of tangible and intangible cultural heritage, along with your understanding of the need for effective and sustainable management of water resources in Turkmenistan and Central Asian region as a whole has already determined the path to comprehensive cooperation which UNESCO stands ready to further develop', the letter says. A regular meeting of the Interstate Commission for Water Coordination (ICWC) of Central Asia was held in Ashgabat in April. The ICWC was established in accordance with the Agreement 'On Cooperation in joint management and protection of trans boundary water resources' signed on Feb.18, 1992 in Almaty by the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Republics of Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. The ICWC is a regional body of the Central Asian states that jointly addresses issues of governance, management, rational use and protection of trans boundary water resources in the Aral Sea basin and implementation of jointly planned programmes 'based on the principles of collective nature and mutual respect of interests of the parties'. The Ashgabat meeting discussed the results of the non-vegetation period of 2011-2012 and adopted joint actions on the use of flood waters during the spring period of high water in the rivers Amu Darya and Syr Darya. Do you have any feedback? Contact our journalist at agency@trend.az