Seminar “International Water Law: Main Legal Principles and Substantive Norms”

ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan

On 5 April, a two-day training seminar “International water law: main legal principles and substantive norms” organized by the UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA) with the support of the US Government, opened in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan.

This seminar is the second in a series of training seminars on water diplomacy implemented in the framework of the program: “Ensuring Equitable Management of Transboundary Watercourses in Central Asia through International Diplomacy, Law and Institutions: Theory and Practical Solutions”. The first seminar was held on September 12-13, 2016 in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

Representatives of relevant ministries and departments of Central Asian countries and Afghanistan, UN agencies, regional organizations, as well as independent experts attended.

In his welcoming address, the Head of the UNRCCA, SRSG Petko Draganov outlined the main activities of the Centre related to the water/energy nexus. Mr. Draganov informed, in particular, about the draft of a Convention on the use of water resources of the Amudarya river basin and the draft of a Convention on the use of water resources of the Syrdarya river basin, submitted by the UN for the consideration by the governments of Central Asian states, which reflect the main principles of international law, taking into account the basin approach and specific context of the region.