In the framework of Turkmenistan’s presidency over the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFSAS), the seminar on the international water law took place in Ashgabat.The seminar brought together the workers and specialists of various departments of the state organisations, scientific institutions and public associations of the country.
The forum is organized by the Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (CAREC) and the Executive Committee of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFSAS) with the assistance of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan.
The main goal of the seminar is to increase the potential of the specialists in Turkmenistan in the sphere of the international legal regulation of transboundary water resources in Central Asia.
According to Coordinator of CAREC projects in Turkmenistan Dovlet Jumagulyyev, one of the aspects of the Turkmenistan’s presidency over IFSAS is to establish the water diplomacy that requires the analysis of the international practices of the international legal regulation of transboundary water resources, to train specialists in this sphere.
The sustainable development of countries that jointly use the transboundary water resources depends not only on the natural factors to restore the yearly water flow but also on the character of the international and legal norms and agreements between them.
Therefore, the international and legal foundations of the water cooperation in Central Asia stand as the keys topics of the meeting.
Addressing the forum participants, senior research scientist and teacher of the Centre of Law and Policy in the sphere of energy, oil and mineral resources of the University of Dundee in Scotland Professor Sergey Vinogradov familiarized them the history of development of the international water law, its reflection in the global water conventions and practices.
The international expert characterized the regulations of the United Nations Convention on the Law of Non-Navigational Uses of International Watercourses and the UN Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes ratified by Turkmenistan.
Sergey Vinogradov noted that the water agenda issues played an important role in the relations between the countries with arid climate. “Developing and promoting the legal regime of using transboundary rivers and lakes, it will be possible to achieve the safe and sustainable development in the region”, said Sergey Vinogradov.
He also analyzed the global and regional agreements, the implementation of water conventions in the basin of the Aral Sea and presented the practices of cooperation on transboundary rivers in Europe.
Speaking during the forum, Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor, Corresponding Member of the Academy of Agricultural Sciences of Kazakhstan Sagit Ibatullin emphasized the important role of the Fund as a platform for the regional water cooperation, focusing on the aspects of the work of the Interstate Commission for Water Coordination of Central Asia and the International Commission on Sustainable Development (ICSD), and also outlined his vision of improving the work of these institutions.
The guest from Kazakhstan also told how his country implemented the state water management programme adopted in 2014, which includes the elements of integrated management.
Batyr Mammadov, the head of the ICSD secretariat, who has done the scientific work in the National Institute of Deserts, Flora and Fauna of the Ministry of Nature Protection of Turkmenistan, worked in a number of foreign universities, including the Ben-Gurion University (Israel) and the University of Nottingham (UK), worked for the Secretariat of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity for many years, presented a comprehensive report on water management in Turkmenistan.
Particular attention in the report was paid to such areas of water cooperation as scientific exchange, training of personnel and improvement of professional skills of national specialists.
“Turkmenistan continues the construction of new and increases the capacities of the existing reservoirs on small rivers and streams.The significant funds were invested into provision of drinking water supply, construction of the Altyn Asyr Lake that has improved the condition of lands in the foothill of the Kopetdag Mountains, as well as prevented the discharge of contaminated collector-drainage waters into the Amu Darya River.
At present, Turkmenistan has taken the measures to introduce the progressive irrigation methods, optimize agricultural production, carry out the breeding work and grow drought- and salt-resistant crops, develop pasture livestock, and introduce agro-practices to produce several crops a year.
We study how to protect water resources, efficiently use the collector system of the Turkmen Lake and adjoining lands and search for alternative options for water and land managment, taking into account the economic efficiency.
The transition to the basin principle is being implemented.Similar experience exists in Turkmenistan - the management of the Karakum River”, said Batyr Mammadov.
The representative of the Executive Committee of IFAS Serdar Eyeberenov emphasized that the success of the transboundary water cooperation supposes coordinated water management activity, given the interests of the population and economies of the states of the region, aimed at increasing the potential of river basins, adjusting water use in the actual natural and climatic situation, etc.
The materials presented at the seminar will help its participants to learn more about the legal regulation of transboundary water resources in the context of sustainable development of the region.