Executive Board of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea in the Republic of

Side‐event: Transboundary Water Cooperation for Development and Ecosystems

Alliances and Capacity Building as Prerequisites to Water Resources Management in Central Asia

Bolat Bekniyaz, Director of the Executive Board of IFAS in RK

Bangkok, November 21‐23, 2018 Water means life

• “Urgent call for decisive actions on water” –the main statement of the 8th World Water Forum (March 2018); • The 70th Session of the UN General Assembly endorsed the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (September 2015); • SDG 6 focuses on rational and integrated water resources use. Main river basins in Kazakhstan National water policy in Kazakhstan

Stipulated by 2 major documents: • 2017‐2021 State Program on the development of agricultural complex of Kazakhstan; • Concept on Transition to Green Economy of the RK. Main goals: • enhancing welfare and quality of life of population; • Kazakhstan becoming one of the 30 most developed nations in the world; • minimizing environmental footprint and degradation of natural resources. International water relations

Kazakhstan and : • Agreement between the Government of the RK and the Government of the RF on Shared Use and Protection of Transboundary Water Bodies of September 7, 2010; • Interstate Kazakhstan‐Russian Commission on Shared Use and Protection of Transboundary Water Bodies (operates under the Agreement); • Several water use and protection working groups –the , , , , , Larger and Smaller Uzen River Basins (established and operating under the Agreement). International water relations

Kazakhstan and China: • Agreement between the Government of the RK and the Government of the PRC on Cooperation in the Sphere of Use and Protection of Transboundary Rivers (signed in Astana on September 12, 2001); • Joint Kazakhstan‐Chinese Commission on Transboundary Rivers Use and Protection; • expert working groups on water allocation and environmental parameters. International water relations

Kazakhstan and : • Agreement between the Government of the RK and the Government of Kyrgyzstan on Utilization of Interstate Water Management Installations on the and Rivers (signed in Astana on January 21, 2000); • Chu‐Talas Commission on Utilization of Interstate Water Management Installations.

More than $500,000 donated (annually) by Kazakhstan to support the efforts of the Commission (rehabilitation and maintenance of hydraulic facilities in Kyrgyzstan). Commissions' achievements: approx. 131,000 ha (Chu River Basin) and approx. 76,000 ha (Talas River Basin) supplied with irrigation water. Water cooperation in Central Asia Interstate Commission for Water Coordination in Central Asia

• Kazakhstan initiated the Agreement on Cooperation in the Sphere of Joint Use and Protection of Water Resources in Interstate Sources among Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan (signed February 18, 1992 in Almaty); • Kazakhstan led the process of establishing the Interstate Commission for Water Coordination (ICWC) in Central Asia. Interstate Commission for Water Coordination in CA

• ICWC Agreement – an effective and robust vehicle for building up water partnerships among five Central Asian nations; • ICWC already held 75 meetings to address most urgent water management issues shared by the countries of the region. International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea

• In 1993, the Heads of 5 Central Asian states decided to establish the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS); • IFAS and its subsidiary bodies – an interstate negotiation platform and tools for fostering dialogue and mutual understanding as well as resolving environmental, water, social and economic issues. International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea

IFAS‐based collaboration: • forging bilateral and multilateral regulations; • adoption of several cooperation treaties and agreements on water allocation; • joint management, use and protection of regional water resources; • implementation of 3 Aral Sea Basin Programs (ASBP); • developing the IV‐th ASBP of 2020‐2030. International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea

• In April 2018, Resolution issued by UN General Assembly on cooperation between UN and IFAS; • In August 2018, Turkmenbashi, the Summit of the Heads of States (IFAS Founders) gave its efforts a new momentum; • Despite numerous international water collaboration achievements, a lot of work still lays ahead. Furthering water cooperation – key to sustainable development of CA Critical tasks ahead: • to develop a ASBP‐4; • to develop a mutually acceptable mechanism for IWRM • to create Water‐Energy consortium to achieve SDGs 6 and 7. • to intensify the work of UN Special Programme for the Economies of Central Asia (SPECA) Safety of hydraulic structures – basis of water safety

• More than 100 large dams currently operating in Central Asian countries (incl. on transboundary rivers); • Ensuring dam safety – a priority of regional cooperation; • It is necessary to continue systemic steps to finalize the Regional Agreement on Cooperation for Safety of Hydraulic Installations in Central Asia. Water for the Future – the main goal of humanity

Other necessary steps:

• holding national dialogues under the UNECE Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes of March 17, 1992; • harmonizing standards and regulations on water quality in Central Asian countries. Effective cooperation between the ESCAP and CA

Side event outcomes, proposed initiatives and projects should encourage further fruitful cooperation between ESCAP and CA to achieve Sustainable Development Goals. Thank you for your attention!

Kazakhstan, Almaty Almalinskiy district, 050009 153 A, Abay ave. Phone: +7 727 394 33 20 E‐mail: [email protected]