ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan -

A seminar on «International Water Law and Negotiations of Mutually Beneficial Multilateral Water Agreements in Central Asia», organized by the United Nations Regional Center for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA) in cooperation with the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), took place in Almaty, Kazakhstan, on 19-21 April 2009.

The event gathered high-level representatives of the Governments of Central Asian states and international water experts who discussed and exchanged views about international water conventions, existing interstate agreements and best practices in negotiating successful trans-boundary water agreements.

The seminar contributed to the search for new approaches and sustainable solutions in the sphere of water management, while promoting dialogue and consultations between the countries of the Region.

The United Nations Regional Center for Preventive Diplomacy in Central Asia (UNRCCA) was established in 2007 at the initiative of the five Central Asian countries and is based in Ashgabat. Through cooperative efforts and preventive diplomacy, the UNRCCA assists the Governments of the Region to address existing threats and potential challenges that face Central Asia. The water and energy sector has been identified as one of the priority areas of the Center's Program of Action for 2009-2011.