On September 15, the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, joined the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, Emomali Rahmon, the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the President of Turkmenistan, Serdar Berdimuhamedov, the First Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic, Adylbek Kasymaliev, and the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General – Head of the United Nations Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia, Kaha Imnadze, at a meeting of the Council of Heads of the Founding States of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea. The participants discussed the results of Tajikistan’s presidency of IFAS in 2020-2023, and analyzed the potential for further collaboration in improving the environmental, water management, and socio-economic situation in the Aral Sea basin.
The President of Uzbekistan proposed several practical suggestions for further interaction in the water and environmental sphere, such as conducting an inventory and revising the primary documents and agreements, analyzing the current structure, and preparing proposals to improve the coordination and effectiveness of the Fund’s organizations, developing “Rules and Procedures” that regulate issues of cooperation and activities of the Fund. He also noted the importance of intensifying systemic engagement on the issues of attracting investments, technologies, and technical assistance to advance priority regional projects, and proposed to convene a special regional conference to accelerate the implementation of joint projects with the involvement of foreign partners, leading international institutions, and donor organizations. Additionally, the Leader of Uzbekistan shared his vision regarding constructing the Kushtepa Canal and invited partners to strengthen cooperation in water conservation.
The heads of the IFAS Founding States signed the Dushanbe Statement by the heads of state of the founders of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea, as well as the Decision of the Council of Heads of the IFAS Founding States on the results of the chairmanship of the Republic of Tajikistan in the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea, the Decision of the Council of Heads of IFAS Founding States on the election of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev as President of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea for 2024-2026, and the Decision of the Council of Heads of the IFAS Founding States on the election of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon as President of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea for 2021-2023.