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Efforts of the Republic of Uzbekistan on improvement of transboundary water resources cooperation in Central Asia  

• 16.12.2018
• Author:admin
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  Vokhidjon Akhmadjonov Deputy Head of the Department for Irrigation Systems Operation, Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources, Republic of Uzbekitan UNECE WORKSHOP -2017 Policy of Uzbekistan in the field of regional water cooperation From the very first days after his inauguration, the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, H.E. Mr.Shavkat Mirziyoev, identified the issues of water resources joint use in the region as one of the priorities of the country's foreign policy. The task was set: "not to leave acute problems, but to seek reasonable compromises". Aral sea basin Cooperation between Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan Working Group between Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan has solved many acute issues. For example, an agreement was reached on the release of at least 400 million m3 of water during the floods from the Shardarya reservoir to the Arnasay lower area. In the conditions of the high-water year, in early 2017 Uzbekistan accepted to the Arnasay lower area about 3 km3 of water additionally to the agreed volume, thereby contributing to the safe operation of the Shardarya reservoir and the prevention of floods in Kazakhstan. Cooperation between Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan   In 2017, thanks to the efforts of the Government of Uzbekistan an agreement with the Kyrgyz Republic was reached in the field of the purchase of electricity in the summer, which ensured the release of water from the Toktogul reservoir. As a result, the water discharge from the Toktogul reservoir, as well as the water resources deficit during the vegetation period in the Syrdarya and Djizak regions of Uzbekistan, and also in the South Kazakhstan region of Kazakhstan are completely prevented. Cooperation between Uzbekistan and Tajikistan   A special joint working group on water management issues has been established between Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, and several meetings were held last year. For example, the parties discussed and resolved issues related to the supply of water from Uzbekistan to the irrigated lands of Tajikistan through the Big Fergana and the North Ferghana channels. Cooperation between Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan Bilateral cooperation between Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan is very fruitfully developing within the framework of a working group with the participation of representatives of the two countries and Basin Water Management Association "Amudarya". The operating regime of the Tuyamuyun hydroelectric complex is coordinated, which allows to jointly manage water resources in the lower reaches of the Amudarya river. Interstate Commission for Water Coordination (ICWC) At the regional level the transboundary        water cooperation between the Central Asian countries is carried out within the framework of the Interstate ICWC, established in 1992. ICWC was able to establish a dialogue between the countries of the region, which allowed the countries of the region for a quarter of a century to manage water resources without conflicts and jointly solve common water management issues. Improvement of the regulatory and legal framework for regional water cooperation The Central Asia region still has unused large potential and opportunities for the development of regional water cooperation, which can bring all the countries of the region huge economic benefits, as well as raise the cooperation of countries to a better level. Uzbekistan appreciated the initiative of the UN Regional Center for Preventive Diplomacy to develop conventions on the use of water resources in the basins of the Amudarya and Syrdarya rivers.