The meeting that gathered scientists, experts, ecologists, economists, diplomats, medical and social workers, activists from twenty countries, was opened by Ms. Cihan Sultanoglu, UNDP Deputy Assistant Administrator and Deputy Director, Regional Bureau for Europe and the CIS.

Among the participants there were representatives of all Central Asian countries as well as Germany, India, China, Russia, Japan and others.

The participants of the forum listened to the President Islam Karimov’s speech of welcome, read out by the Deputy Prime Minister, Rustam Azimov. In his speech the president called this problem as “one of the most complicated and urgent for Central Asian countries” and its importance goes far beyond “water security and bounds of a single region.”

At the conference, the representatives of SCO, CIS Executive Committee, World Bank, Asian Development Bank, WHO, UN Population Fund, UNICEF, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and other international organizations also read out their welcome speeches.

The speakers were full of sincere emotions as a result of the preceding visit to the disaster areas where they had seen the former seacoast with a sad picture of once a unique sea, purity and transparency of which was compared with lakes Baikal and Geneva. Today we can only meet white salt spots with rare plants and rusty fishing boats, half-covered with sand. The participants couldn’t believe that those coasts were recently washed by once the 4th largest inner water body.

The implacable statistics says that the water volume in Aral Sea has decreased almost ten times, surface area – more than 4 times, the area of the revealed bottom has reached 4.5 mln ha.

The desert, formed on the former sea bottom, spreads millions tons of dust and salt to the neighboring areas.  The trails of toxic aerosol have stretched out for more than 400 km in length and 40 km in width. Since early 1980s the dust storms blow in these areas 90 days a year. The clouds of salty dust have aggravated the ecology of Aral Sea area even more: injure human health, reduce the level of crop yields, pollute the environment and cause corrosion of iron parts in machinery.

The conference participants could see with their own eyes all the negative consequences in Muynak district of Karakalpakistan. They also witnessed the heroic efforts of local habitants in their struggle with ecological disaster. One of the projects, they implemented, resulted in the green lines of saxaul and other trees rising over the dried out bottom of Aral Sea.

At one of the local hospitals the guests have acquainted with conditions and the level of medical service.

The discussions on the impact of the Aral crisis of not on its region only, but on the remote areas as well, have continued during the conference in Tashkent. Some specialist believe that the dust from the naked bottom of Aral darkens the glaciers and snowcaps on Pamir, Altai Mountains and Tyan-Shan mountain system, and together with global warming it intensifies glacier degradation and decrease of snow fund. So it threatens with disaster to the whole region. For the last 50 years the glaciers have lost 25% of their volume, and these figures are really dangerous.

The powerful air streams carry dust from Aral over thousands of kilometers. For example, some Russian media reported of the dust, found in the Southern Siberia in the snows of Altai Mountains.

These mountains give birth to a mighty river of Ob. Last century it was projected to turn some of its flows to refill the rivers of our region. According to the scientists of the Water Problem Institute of the Academy of Sciences of Russia, we could return to the project, but basing on the profound scientific researches.

However, it was noted that we need to carry out detailed inspection of our own water resources first. This work is also necessary for the World Water Assessment Program. In global scale it is performed by 23 agencies of the UN. The main office of WWAP is located in the UNESCO, which was set as the coordinator of such activities. The information, gathered from all around the world let prepare and publish reports on the world water resources. The development of the Central Asian part of the document is assigned to the Institute of Water Problems of the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan.

The agreement on the abovementioned work was signed at the very International Conference “Problems of Aral: Impact on the Gene Pool of Population, Flora and Fauna, and Measures of International, Cooperation for Mitigating Consequences.” The document was signed by coordinator of the program, Olcay Unver presenting the UNESCO side and Shavkat Salikhov president of the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan.

One of the main aims of the elaborated document, as it was noted in the United Nations Millennium Declaration, adopted in 2000, is “…to stop the unsustainable exploitation of water resources by developing water management strategies at the regional, national and local levels, which promote both equitable access and adequate supplies.”

The future of the Aral Sea area also depends on the equitable access to water resources and their careful use. The ancient land of Karakalpakistan has long been located in the strategic position on the crossroads of the trade routes of continental importance. Today it’s still of much importance. It is the territory of powerful international gas mainlines and an important part of future transcontinental Hamburg-Shanghai superhighway. Karakalpakistan began a scaled oil and gas exploration work, has launched a big Kungrad soda plant recently and explores other natural resources. The great works on reviving the declined economy of the Aral region is also carried out.

At the Tashkent conference the foreign donators and sponsors, including international organizations and financial institutions were invited to participate in implementation of the Projects focused on mitigation of climate change implications in the Aral region.

But the implementation of the plans, directed to develop the economy and raise the employment is still depending on water resources.

What is the water for the Central Asia? The statistics say that prosperity of more than a half and employment of one-third of the population in the region depends on water. The republic ensures 23% of national income and 38% of electricity in the country by means of water.

That is why we must take into account every user and reach consensus in mutual access to water resources. And the construction of a new hydraulic facility should be concurred with other neighboring states. Otherwise, each of the country may suffer.

It was noted at the conference that the right way of handling the problem is the enforcement of joint water managing structures, created by the states of the region. One of such structures is the Intergovernmental water coordinating commissions with waterworks facilities of Amudarya and Syrdarya.

It was also noted that accidence to international conventions and observance of coordinated conditions and rules of managing the water-flows let us guarantee the equitable water distribution and preserve delicate ecological balance in the Aral region. It will also let us move on the way of further appeasing the conditions in the lower reaches of both main rivers of the Central Asia.

The drying out of the Aral Sea is one of the largest anthropogenic catastrophes in the modern history. However, last years, the world community paid less attention to this problem. And the Tashkent forum lets us believe that the industrialized countries will, ones again, turn their eyes on the Aral problems. As it was told at the conference, the countries of the region are not that strong to revive the Aral by their own.

The participants highlighted the importance of reasonable use of water resources of transboundary rivers of the region as well as the need in comprehensive and well-considered approach and decisions related to use of water resources for the sake and in the interests of all countries and peoples, living in the region. It was also noted that the efforts taken by the Central Asian states and international community during the last fifteen years brought certain positive results that permitted to mitigate the consequences of the Aral Sea crisis to local population, flora and fauna within the territory of disaster. However, over the past few years, the amount and intensity of assistance has declined.

The Aral Sea crisis gave the world community an instructive example. In global scale it is a chapter of possible situations in many regions of the world under the climate change.

The Aral Sea disaster has also urged us to radically change our attitude to nature and its most precious gift – water. And the sage expression “water is life” was never urgent like today.

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Strictly obey the international water law   

The turn of water into a product through generating hydroelectricity carries great danger. A vast power potential of zones of forming water-flow can create favorable conditions for preventing water decline in low-water seasons by transforming to long-term regulation. But it may cause problems, if water is used only in power engineering. Only cooperative development and further power generation in potential hydropower stations of the region can cope with this trend.

The secret of surviving of Central Asian states is primarily to obey strictly the international water law. Uzbekistan is a clear example because it was the first Central Asian state to join two international conventions: 1992 and 1997.  Except Uzbekistan, there was only Kazakhstan to join the 1992 Convention. This tendency can be seen in deliberate delay of signing of many submitted intergovernmental documents on Syrdarya. On one hand, it proves the unawareness of the international water law whether a country joins a certain juridical global document or not. On the other, it shows short-sightedness because no one can absolutely feel comfortable under conditions of our closely interwoven and interrelated water system. Moreover, the principle of “do not damage” and “if damaged, pay for it” is generally accepted not only in the international water law, but everywhere.

Undoubtedly, the catastrophically dried out Aral Sea has turned into a “dead reservoir” today. The Aral disaster has worsened the region’s continental climate, intensifying drought and heat in summer and prolonging cold and severe winter periods. Estimating the climatic situation of 2035-2050, specialists say that the temperature of the region might grow by 1.5-3.0 C.

Higher temperature growth is expected in the north of Uzbekistan, Aral region.

We must pay more attention to rational use of trans-boundary rivers which have satisfied vitally important needs of the states and population living in the basin of these rivers. Today it is interests of 55 million people living in countries of the region.

We must take into consideration the situation when all water systems of the Aral Sea are exhausted in future and impact of global changing of climate, use of every cubic meter of water in any zone of the basin will cause destabilization of using water resources in other zones with negative consequences for the region in whole. Thereupon, all decisions on using these rivers including construction of water power stations must obligatorily take into consideration the interests all states of the region, thinking over and submitting preliminarily and thoroughly all details. The Aral crisis threatens the ecological situation not only of Uzbekistan and Central Asia. The crisis will result in unexpected and catastrophic changes in climate of the whole globe.

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This conference is of great importance for both Central Asian countries and international community in whole. The Aral problem is of socio-economic significance. I think that President Islam Karimov’s initiative of holding the conference in Tashkent is very important because vital resolutions on using water resources in the region were made here. Uzbekistan’s policy for the Aral crisis and practical measures taken by the country can be a good example for Central Asian states.

Governments of five countries must cooperate more effectively. At the same time, their water and energy ministries and departments must be united, hold roundtables and develop step-by-step strategy of taking concrete measures.

This meeting must promote development of purposeful policy of Central Asian states for water and ecological problems. Today countries of our region, CIS states and world community must join to cope with urgent problems of the Aral Sea.

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The Aral problem is a complex one and its resolution must be so. It is important not only to estimate volume of water sources, determine more efficient methods of adapting to conditions of dry climate and predict properly water resources but also to predict water consumption in the region. When conditions improve and reserves of pure water grow in volume, certainly its consumption will also increase. Therefore, it is necessary to teach people, especially farmers to consume water resources economically and integrate economic methods of water consumption. It is also important to consolidate efforts of states, public sector and international organization in employment in the Aral region.

The conference is a very significant element in solving the problems of the region. We have signed the Tashkent Declaration and many other documents which will accelerate resolution of many problems. But the Aral problem is a complex one and it cannot be solved for a day. We must have contacts with farmers of Central Asia on one hand and donor associations and water specialists and scientists on the other.

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I hope that this conference will prompt all of us to make more efforts to mitigate implications of the Aral crisis. We might not realize fully the influence of regional problems and problems related to climate changing. Our work must focus on ensuring efficient use of water resources. This conference provides us with a wonderful opportunity to realize the consensus of this problem touching upon interests of countries of the region.

The World Bank invests money in Karakalpakstan including Khorezm to implement projects on improving water supply, sanitary conditions and medical service. We will continue this work. At present, the World Bank is developing its new assistance strategy for Uzbekistan and we hope to use the results of the conference in elaborating it.

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The ecological problem of the Aral region negatively influences all Central Asian states. The resolution of these problems requires countries of the world and international organizations to strengthen mutual cooperation with each other.

Uzbekistan pays much attention to mitigation of negative impact of the Aral crisis, improvement of living standards of the region’s population and protection of mothers and children’s health. The state in cooperation with public organizations and international structures makes a weighty contribution. In turn, our organization intends to implement a number of projects on improving employment and increasing people’s stable incomes. Its main goal is to improve living standards of the population.

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The crisis of the Aral Sea is one of the largest ecological and humanitarian catastrophes in the world. Karakalpakstan is mostly affected by consequences of the Aral crisis, where an extremely bad ecological situation continues to worsen. We are well aware of the measures undertaken in Uzbekistan to solve this problem. I think that in this case it is necessary to unite forces, to attract attention of the international community and donor organizations in order to increase the potential for solution of this problem.

The ecological situation in the Aral area is really heavy, and I do not think that it can be fixed in a year or two. A lot of time and efforts is required. Probably it will be possible to raise the water level, to revive flora and fauna of the region, but at the same time it is necessary to improve the level of life of people living there. The population issue has a special importance.

It is necessary to improve the quality of medical services, which are rendered in the Aral region, to improve delivery of fresh water and many other things. Today it is obvious that a complex approach in cooperation of all countries of the region, a target joint policy in nature protection and healthcare and a united legal, financial and technological base is required. In this context the Tashkent conference is an important step for making important decisions and concrete measures for solving these problems.

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Ecological disaster of the Aral Sea is not only a national problem, but of the whole region. Drying out of the Aral Sea and a big ecological problem led to change of climate. As a result, a difficult ecological situation having a negative impact on health of people, environment and fates of next generations has arisen here. Therefore, conservation of the gene pool of the Aral region grows in actuality.

The conference on problems of the Aral Sea held on the initiative of the Uzbek authorities is of extreme importance. Uzbekistan accomplished a wide-scaled work on improving the ecological situation, drawing the attention of the world community to this problem and its joint resolution with countries of the region.

It is great that the conference takes into consideration the previous experience and projects in this sphere. I would like to point out the Nukus conference in 1995 that was a significant step to solve this problem. I am sure that this forum will help to stabilize the ecological and socio-economic situation in the region.

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It is quite remarkable that in Tashkent in May 1992 the heads of the CIS governments signed an agreement of joint actions on solving the problems of the Aral Sea and Aral region. In 1999 in Minsk the CIS heads adopted a protocol on preparing a special agreement on the Aral problems by governments of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Last years, they have signed many documents and resolutions and there is a common understanding of the problem’s importance and necessity of taking common measures to save the region. However, practical steps are obvious and evident. We positively evaluate the decision of the heads of Central Asian states on establishing the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea.

In solving this problem we must not stand aside because international and regional organizations are promoted to supplement harmoniously each other. The CIS Executive Committee is ready to assist in reviving the Aral Sea area and take an active part in all the events which will help to cope with the problem. To solve existing problems of the Aral region we have to set up a unified system for estimating water resources and using them in the Aral basin, develop a common water consumption strategy and basing on it, work out draft legal acts and norms and  regulations for consuming water resources.

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The importance and urgency of the initiative of the Uzbekistan’s government in organization of the international conference on the Aral problem are absolutely indisputable. The Aral crisis has long stepped beyond the Central Asian region. And its general lesson is that infringement of natural-biological balance in one region leads to consequences which do not recognize the state sovereignty and borders. We should all be ready to natural and anthropogenic influence of our neighbors.

Since the 90s, the Central Asian countries undertake efforts on mitigation of extremely negative consequences of the Aral Sea drying out, including within frameworks of the International Aral Rescue Fund. The work on restoration of so-called Small Aral, carried out by Kazakhstan, as well as Uzbekistan’s work on restoration of arboreal-dumetosous ecosystem for fastening mobile sand in coastal zone of the Aral Sea deserves special attention. However, there was no effective mobilization of efforts of the world community. And the countries of the Aral region focus on the growing problem, they have been left alone with. Without serious increase in financial and technical assistance of international donors it is simply impossible to revive the Aral area and solve the most essential problems, especially human related ones.

No doubts that the results of the conference and constructive offers of participants will be of much demand, while solving all the complex problems of Aral. We will sure take into account the results of the conference in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization projects.

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We are trying to help Uzbekistan to soften and reduce consequences of the crisis. The government of Turkey supports efforts of the government of Uzbekistan in solution of this problem, and a set of joint projects is being carried out for this purpose.

After visiting Muynak district of Nukus we all became witnesses of the Aral crisis, we saw how the Sea dries out, what horrible consequences it has for the population, including in economy and social spheres.

This problem infringes interests of many people, and countries of the entire region. The task of experts, which gathered in the forum, is to help in defining an effective strategy to solve most important tasks in order to improve life conditions of the Aral population, to make everything to improve the ecology in the region. In this connection, the issues of effective water use are topical. It is also necessary to deeply study issues related to high water mineralization, its influence on the health of the population, and accordingly take measures to solve the problem. In my opinion, today the Aral crisis can be compared with the Chernobyl catastrophe. And the given conference is a panacea for solution of the Aral problems.