ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan -   

A round table discussion “Enhanced regional cooperation: coordination meeting on the follow up to the IFAS Summit in Almaty” organized by the United Nations Regional Center for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA) with support of the Government of Turkmenistan was held in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, on 16 July 2009.

The event gathered senior representatives of IFAS member-states, principal officials of the Executive Committee of IFAS, high level representatives of UN Agencies and relevant international and regional organizations to discuss best ways to facilitate the implementation of decisions taken at the IFAS Summit which took place in Almaty, Kazakhstan, on 28 April 2009.

As the result of deliberations participants adopted a final statement of the meeting. The document emphasized that institutional strengthening and updated contractual legal frameworks of the Fund contribute to enhanced confidence among member states, create reliable guarantees for the implementation of mutually agreed decisions on regional water and energy resources management. Participants stressed out the importance of effective donors' coordination at the regional level and agreed to consider proposals of the EC IFAS on organizing a donors’ coordination conference in cooperation with international partners.

Representatives of Central Asian states welcomed the readiness of the UNRCCA to support and facilitate the development of mutually acceptable mechanism of a comprehensive use of water and energy resources and environmental protection in Central Asia with consideration of interests of all states of the region.

Participants were also introduced to a concept of shared benefits aimed at enhancing mutually advantageous cooperation in the region of Central Asia which will be further discussed in October at the seminar “Mutually beneficial multilateral water agreements: opportunities to add value and share benefits in the energy, agriculture and water sectors in Central Asia”, to be organized by UNRCCA in cooperation with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

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