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the 4th World Water Forum

Resolution of the Special evnt:

«Aral Sea Basin problems and the Ways of their Solutions»,

March 18, 2006

International Year of Fresh Water 2003 and International decade of actions “Water for Life” 2005-2015 announced by the United Nations General Assembly at the initiative of the Republic of Tajikistan have facilitated rising awareness of the world community on problems of water resources and, especially, of the Aral Sea basin and transition from their discussions, expression of intentions and declaration of commitments to implementation of concrete projects and programs.

The problems of the Aral ecological catastrophe of the planet scale and necessity of their step-by-step decision were declared in the:

• United Nations International Conference on sustainable development of the states of the basin (Nukus, 1995);

• United Nations General Assembly sessions during discussion and adoption of decisions on the International Year of Fresh Water 2003 and International decade of actions “Water for Life” 2005-2015;

• World Summit on Sustainable Development (Johannesburg, 2002);

• Third World Water Forum (Kyoto, 2003);

• Pan European Conference of Environment Ministers (Kiev, 2003);

• International Forum on Fresh Water (Dushanbe, 2003);

• International Conference on regional cooperation in transboundary river basins (Dushanbe, 2005);

• other regional fora.

The heads of the Central Asian states have initiated a new Program of concrete actions on improvement of the ecological, social and economic situation in the Aral Sea basin for 2003-2010 (ASBP-2).

The countries of the Central Asian region are implementing concrete activities, the international organizations and donor-countries are rendering financial, technical, consultative and other support in overcoming of the Aral crisis. However, the scale and volume of the implemented efforts are disproportional to the consequences of the catastrophe. As a result, we do not manage to stop degradation processes, and drying of the Aral Sea, expansion of a new desert “Aralkum” and reduction of glaciers is continuing as well as there is a deficiency of clean drinking water, social and economic issues are not solved and mainly the reason for this is a water crisis.

We, the participants of the special session devoted to the problems of the Aral Sea basin that have been conducted within framework of the Fourth World Water Forum:

• taking note of importance of local actions for global challenges,

• supporting the Millennium Development Goals and Johannesburg Implementation Plan,

• desiring to make a concrete contribution in realization of the United Nations General Assembly Resolution N58/217 dated from 23 December 2003 on announcing the International decade of actions “Water for Life” 2005-2015,

• taking note of existence of the legitimate program of concrete actions on improvement of the ecological, social and economic situation in the Aral Sea basin for the period of  2003-2010 (ASBP-2) initiated by the heads of the Centrals Asian states that relevant to the MDGs and existence of the regional institutional structure – the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea,

• supposing that the Fourth World Water Forum could be a milestone in history of the Aral which is reach mainly in declaring assistance but not actions aimed at its saving,

• being committed to regional cooperation in field of management of transboundary river water resources,

• taking into account the real and effective institutional infrastructures performed by the International decade of actions “Water for Life” 2005-2015 for securing the progress in implementation adopted by the international community agenda on the water recourses due to uniting the efforts of all interested partners – governments, UN organizations and agencies, international finance institutions and civil society.

• supporting appeal of the President of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea, the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, Mr. Emomali Rahmonov on rendering active assistance in  the Aral global ecological catastrophe,

call  on:

• governments and international organizations to recognize the Recommendations and Appeal of the   International Conference on regional cooperation in transboundary river basins (Tajikistan, Dushanbe 2005 – web page www. Transaterconference2005.org)

• to assist the initiative of the Republic of Tajikistan on development of an Agreement on partnership of all interested sides in achievement of the MDG and completion of the Aral Sea basin  program for 2003-2010, with binding  to concrete commitments and creation of favorable conditions for investments,

- the UNDP to render relevant technical assistance in this and development of the national strategies on water sector development,

- the Organizing Committee of the Fourth World Water Forum to include in a final document of the Forum an item on appeal to the United Nations recommending to consider an opportunity for realization of provision of the Dushanbe Declaration of the heads of the Central Asian states dated from 6 October 2003 on creation of the mechanism for coordination activities of the international organizations and donors under the UN aegis for decision of the Aral Sea basin problems and announcing it a priority pilot region in realization of the MDGs as well as establishment of a Consultative Council under the UN Secretary General on water and sanitary with its representatives in the Central Asian countries – members of the IFAS.

To appeal to the international finance institutions, International water management institute and other international organization to render assistance for:

conducting a joint study on impact of the Aral ecological catastrophe in climate change and glaciers in the Central Asia,

introduction of the integrated water resources management  on a basis of geographical units taking into account water-supply of the population and economy,

extending activities on rehabilitation of the irrigation and collector-drainage systems, creation of water-user’s associations, initiation of the laws harmonization processes and their adaptation to international water and ecological conventions, stimulation of water saving, development of new water and energy sources,

support of activities on improvement of drinking water-supply, sanitary, flood protection, population health protection with prior attention to the children and future generations,

promotion of elaboration of technical economic basis of the Central Asia Water-energy consortium, economic mechanism of water-use in the countries and the region at whole

We express our gratitude to the Government of Mexico, World Water Council and Organizing Committee on preparation and conduction of the Fourth World Water Forum for its excellent organization and opportunity to participate in its work.                                 

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