Turkmenistan Promotes Central Asian Water Resources Management Initiatives in Dushanbe
The representative Fourth International High-Level Conference on the International Decade for Action, "Water for Sustainable Development," was held in the capital of Tajikistan from May 25 to 28. An authoritative delegation from Turkmenistan, led by Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Tangryguly Atakhalliyev, participated in the large-scale environmental forum, opening ceremony of which took place in the capital's Kokhi Somon Complex with the participation of President Emomali Rahmon.
Delegates from dozens of countries focused on mechanisms for accelerating the implementation of UN Sustainable Development Goal 6, as well as on developing a global agenda in preparation for the upcoming United Nations Water Conference.
Speaking at the forum's plenary session, the head of the Turkmen delegation emphasized that official Ashgabat views careful management of water resources as a fundamental factor in regional stability, security, and long-term economic progress, which is especially relevant in the context of the transboundary nature of Central Asia's waterways.
Turkmenistan consistently advocates for the development of an absolutely fair, sustainable, and strictly scientifically based system of water resource distribution and management based on a solid foundation of international law and under the leading coordinating role of the UN.
As a practical tool for achieving this goal, the Turkmen side highlighted the relevance of its strategic proposal to establish a Regional Water Council for Central Asia under the auspices of the UN, which is intended to become a permanent, effective mechanism for coordinating the interests of all states in the region.
Ashgabat's other environmental initiatives aimed at minimizing the impact of global climate change also aroused particular interest among conference participants. The Turkmen delegation confirmed its readiness to practically deploy the Regional Climate Technology Center and the Regional Center to Combat Desertification in Central Asia, the creation of which will facilitate the rapid transfer of advanced scientific achievements and strengthen the technological sovereignty of neighboring states in the environmental sphere.
During subsequent thematic sessions, representatives of Turkmenistan reaffirmed the country's continued commitment to key UN conventions in the areas of biodiversity conservation and integrated water resources management, demonstrating to the international community Ashgabat's readiness to promote a comprehensive and scientifically sound approach to addressing contemporary environmental challenges.
