On 19-20 October, Special Representative of the UN Secretary General and Head of the UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA) Natalia Gherman paid an official visit to Tajikistan. During the visit, SRSG Gherman met with Minister of the Foreign Affairs Sirojiddin Aslov as well as Dushanbe diplomatic corps, Ambassador of the European Union Hidajet Biščević and the UN Resident Coordinator Tajikistan Pratibha Mehta. SRSG Gherman also attended a workshop on “International Water Conflicts: Principles and Means of Dispute Resolution” organized by the UNRCCA and regional partners.

During the meeting with the Foreign Minister, the sides exchanged views on different areas of cooperation, such as combating modern challenges and threats, security of the region, joint management of water resources, and the sustainable development goals.

SRSG Natalia Gherman expressed firm commitment of the UNRCCA to assist the Central Asian countries in developing mutually beneficial cooperation in the sphere of transboundary water resources management through the application of basic principles of international water law in the Aral Sea Basin. In this context, the SRSG praised the important initiatives presented by Tajikistan in the UN framework on the next “Water Decade”. Ms. Natalia Gherman also stressed the importance of cooperation between the Central Asian states in countering the security threats in the region and welcomed the commitment of Tajikistan to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs Sirojiddin Aslov noted the importance and relevance of preventive diplomacy in the Central Asian Region and expressed the full support of Tajikistan to the activities of the UNRCCA.