DUSHANBE, Tajikistan –

On 19-21 August, Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) and Head of the United Nations Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA) Ambassador Miroslav Jenča participated in the High Level Conference on Water Cooperation in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.

This conference was convened in accordance with the UN General Assembly Resolution A/67/204, adopted on 21 December 2012, and in the framework of the International Year of Water Cooperation that was also endorsed by the UN General Assembly for the year of 2013. The main objective of the forum was, as stated by the Conference Chair, the Prime Minister of Tajikistan, Mr. Akil Akilov, "to promote dialogue and mutual understanding on water cooperation at all levels and to build and strengthen partnerships."

In his statement to the conference, the SRSG underlined that the Centre's programmatic activities have clearly demonstrated that the countries of the region have a significant interest in finding optimal ways aimed at reaching mutually acceptable durable solutions to trans-boundary water management problems. He emphasized that the Center would continue using its impartial position and convening powers to facilitate multi-faceted regional cooperation for the establishment of such a mechanism that would meet long-term interests of all the states and would contribute to peace and stability in Central Asia.

In the framework of the Conference 7 High Level Panels and 19 Special Focus Events were organized. SRSG Miroslav Jenca chaired one of the High Level Panels on "Triggers and Catalysts of Water Cooperation", as well as the Special Focus Event "Pathways to Collaboration on Transboundary Watercourses – 2013" that was jointly organized by the UNRCCA and the Ministry of Land Reclamation and Water Resources of the Republic of Tajikistan. The purpose of this Special Focus Event was to highlight current initiatives aimed at facilitating collaboration and cooperative action on trans-boundary water issues in various basins around the world and the Aral Sea Basin. The Special Focus Event had attracted over 70 participants from Central Asian countries, other countries, international organizations, and representatives of other river basins.

On the margins of the conference, SRSG Ambassador Jenča met with Kyrgyzstan's Prime Minister H.E. Mr. Satybaldiev Zhantoro, Mr. Khamraev Sh. Acting Head of Executive Committee of International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea, and other senior officials.