On January 29, 2008 at the office of the Executive Committee of the International Fund for saving the Aral Sea was held «Round Table», devoted to results of the First Asian-Pacific Water Summit that has taken place on December 3-4, 2007 in Beppu (Japan). The representatives of Tajikistan, Executive Committee of the International Fund for saving the Aral Sea, headed by the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, President of the International Fund for saving the Aral Sea (IFAS), H.E. Emomali Rahmon have participated at the Summit.

The Asian-Pacific Water Forum is created by the Minister Declaration of the Asian-Pacific region at the IV World Water Forum on March 21, 2006, in Mexico. The Republic of Tajikistan among other countries, international organizations, including United Nations system has promoted creation of this Forum.

The Central Asian sub-region including Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia is a part of the Asian-Pacific region. Many water, ecological and socio-economic problems of the Central Asian sub-region are general both for Asia, and for the world as a whole. Availability of the transboundary rivers, aggravation of ecological and socio-economic situation against water deficiency, water related disasters, influence of the Aral ecological catastrophe of planetary scale, pollution of the Black and Caspian seas, global climate changes accentuate the water and other problems in the Central Asian sub-region.

From 49 states at the Asian-Pacific Water Summit have taken part the official delegations of 36 countries of region, 10 heads of the states, chiefs and representatives of the UN Institutes, international, public, scientific and other organizations.

At the Plenary session of Heads of the states the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, President of IFAS Emomali Rahmon has noted irreplaceable essence of water, constant growth of its value which can exceed a price of oil, gas, coal and other resources necessary for sustainable future of every country and region. He has also emphasized the actuality of establishment of regional and international special funds under the United Nations structure for elimination of the difficulties concerned with access of the population to fresh water, sanitary and assisting in water related disasters, special helping poor and underprivileged (developing) countries

Touching on the issue of the Aral Sea tragedy the Head of Tajikistan offered to inclide  the initiative of Heads of the Central Asian states in the summary documents of the Summit, declared at the meeting in Dushanbe in 2002 on giving a status of the United Nations Institute to the International Fund for saving the Aral Sea for coordination of the international organizations’ and donors’ activity and declaring the Aral Sea Basin as a priority pilot region for achieving of the Millennium Development Goals.

The Head of Tajikistan offered essentially new initiatives at the Summit:

• Risk prevention of breakdown Sarez Lake and use of its water resources for water supply of the Central Asian population by establishment of the International Consortium;

• Calling of the International Conference on Reduction of Water related Disasters in Dushanbe. The Government of Tajikistan has already taken a decision about its carrying out in the end of June 2008;

• Establishment of Central Asia sub-regional Center of the Asian-Pacific Water Forum in Dushanbe for cooperation strengthening on water resources management improvement in the Aral Sea Basin;

• Calling of a Special Event of High Officials Level within the framework of the UN General Assembly, dedicated to discussion of condition of water issues at global level and consideration of concrete steps upon eradication of water problems.

• Elaboration and adoption of International Water Convention taking into account the interests of all consumers.

During the Summit the Executive Committee of IFAS has organized a Panel session: «Commitment for Ensuring Water Security in the Aral Sea Basin- Cooperation versus competition» where the main emphasis has been made on descendant processes of degradation of glaciers, difficulties to balance demands of different water users, such as irrigation, hydropower and environment. In Tajikistan, as a whole in Central Asia, there is a rich human potential, big experience, adjusted regional cooperation, which can promote  to solve existing problems.

At the Summit the International Water Exhibition in which have taken part more than 50 various international and regional organizations has been organized. Our Government presented an exposition under the general name «Tajikistan - country of water resources».   The International Fund for saving the Aral Sea has organized at the Summit a photo-exhibition devoted to the Aral Sea Basin problems and ways of their solutions.

The given «Round Table» is organized with a view of wide public informing, and also understanding of the national, regional, international, non-governmental organizations the descendant regional and global water processes, initiation of corresponding measures on implementation of initiatives of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, President of IFAS H.E. Emomali Rahmon. For these purposes the participants of "Round Table» accepted the corresponding resolution with appeal to the interested organizations.