NUR-SULTAN, Kazakhstan

On April 23, SRSG Gherman took part in the round table "Problems and prospects of effective use of water resources of Kazakhstan and Central Asia: development of international legal framework of cooperation" jointly organized by the Kazakh Parliament and the Ministry of Ecology, Geology and Natural Resources. The meeting was attended by high-level government officials, Members of the Parliament, as well as a number of national and international experts.

SRSG Gherman underlined that Central Asia demonstrated a noticeable progress in the dynamics of regional cooperation, which opened new opportunities to find mutually acceptable and long-term solutions to the most important regional problems, including in the area of transboundary water management. SRSG has particularly noted that several important resolutions of the UN General Assembly aimed at strengthening cooperation in the water and environmental issues were adopted at the initiative of the Central Asian countries. Ms. Gherman also mentioned the UNRCCA Water Strategy for supporting cooperation between five states of the region in water, energy, environment for 2022-2025, aimed at enhancing trust and deepening cooperation, including through the prism of climate security and gender equality. It was noted that all Central Asian states undertook important commitments in the area of climate cooperation at the 26th session of the UN Climate Conference in Glasgow.

Deputy Chairman of the Majilis of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Ms. Kessebayeva, Vice Minister of Ecology, Geology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Ms. Shalabekova, Deputy Director of the Executive Directorate of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea in the Republic of Kazakhstan, Mr. Marat Narbayev, as well as other high-level officials focused on Kazakhstan's experience in the use and protection of water resources of transboundary rivers and on the negative impact of climate change on social and economic development of the region. A low level of efficiency of water use was mentioned, together with aging water-related infrastructure.

The round table concluded with the adoption of a resolution that called all interested parties to intensify efforts to further strengthen cooperation of the Central Asian countries on the use of water resources, to initiate the development of a common vision for the efficient use of water resources on the basis of generally recognized norms of international water law. The resolution also stressed importance of the UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy in supporting cooperation between the five states of the region in water, energy, environmental and climate areas.