Founders of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea Meet in Kazakhstan | President Tokayev calls for Coordinated Pragmatic Environmental Agenda

The Presidents of Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan participated in the meeting for which Tokayev expressed his gratitude to all of the leaders of Central Asian Republics.

In the meeting, the leaders  discussed the prospects for the development of the Fund and outline consolidated solutions aimed at preserving the ecosystem of the Aral Sea basin.

“This is an issue of broad international significance, which attracts the attention of many countries and international organizations. The issue of saving the Aral Sea has long been on the agenda both in our region and globally. Ensuring the stability and prosperity of the region is our shared and fully achievable goal. I hope this meeting will give impetus to strengthening cooperation and bring tangible benefits to all countries of the region, H.E. Mr. Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said.

He said , The Fund plays a significant role in consolidating international support and implementing joint initiatives aimed at preserving the Aral Sea. During Kazakhstan’s chairmanship of IFAS, with the active support of all founding states, consistent efforts have been made to address numerous pressing challenges. In particular, cooperation in the water and energy sector has been strengthened, financing mechanisms for projects have been expanded, and measures have been taken to enhance the coordinating role of the Fund’s Executive Committee.

“Close attention is being paid to the implementation of the Aral Sea Basin Program and the Regional Environmental Program for Sustainable Development in Central Asia. In addition, more than 30 regional projects are being implemented with the participation of international organizations. The total funding for these programs and initiatives exceeds two billion US dollars. An important contribution to improving the health and well-being of the population of the Aral Sea region is expected from the Regional Roadmap for 2026-2029, developed by Kazakhstan in partnership with the World Health Organization, – the President stated.

– The increase in water volume from 18.9 to 23.5 cubic kilometers has had a beneficial impact on fisheries and the overall socio-economic situation in the Aral Sea region. A unique natural and scientific site – the “Aral” Geopark – has been created, intended to serve as a model for sustainable development in this area. The main goal of the project is to preserve the natural, ecological, and historical heritage of the Aral Sea. Work is currently underway to include the site in the UNESCO Global Geoparks Network. Thus, Kazakhstan’s chairmanship has been focused on improving the effectiveness of the Fund. I express sincere gratitude to all founding states for their support and constructive cooperation. I am confident that through joint efforts, while maintaining continuity in our goals and practical work, we will achieve even greater success in ensuring a sustainable future for our peoples, – said H.E. Mr. Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.

– You are well aware of the alarming environmental situation in the Aral Sea basin. The climate in the Aral region has changed significantly: summer temperatures have increased on average by 2–2.5 degrees, aridity has intensified, while winters have become colder. Within a radius of 100 kilometers, precipitation has significantly decreased. The frequency and scale of dust storms are increasing. Every year, tens of millions of tons of salt, sand, and various chemicals are lifted into the atmosphere from the Aralkum desert. These particles are found in the most remote regions of the world, including the Arctic Ocean, negatively affecting soils, ecosystems, and human health far beyond the region. The impact of aerosol emissions on the glaciers of the Tien Shan and Pamir is of serious concern. According to the World Meteorological Organization, the last hydrological year for glaciers was among the worst on record since 1950. Glacier shrinkage has an extremely negative impact on water security across the entire region. At the same time, water consumption continues to grow steadily. More than 80 percent of water resources are used in agriculture, while losses in irrigation systems remain unacceptably high. Under these conditions, it is necessary to develop coordinated and long-term solutions. Let us set an example that demonstrates our ability to jointly and effectively develop solutions of strategic importance and scale, – H.E. Mr. Kassym-Jomart Tokayev proposed.

– This is not a national or tactical issue, but a strategic task of global importance. Therefore, it is important to move to practical actions, including updating the organizational mechanisms of the Fund. This will strengthen the applied nature of its activities. In our view, it is necessary to reinforce the role of the Fund as a central regional platform capable of effectively addressing water, environmental, and sustainable development issues in the interests of all Central Asian countries. The accumulated experience of cooperation must not be lost. According to international experts, in recent years national priorities have dominated water policies in the region, while international aspects – cooperation and consideration of neighbors’ interests – have receded into the background. This is seen as the main cause of water-energy imbalances, violations in the management of transboundary river resources, and insufficient attention to environmental consequences. In these complex conditions, it is critically important to attempt at least partial harmonization of our water strategies, which would also allow scaling up the most successful water-saving practices. At last year’s Consultative Meeting of Central Asian Heads of State, I proposed adopting a Framework Convention on water use in line with international standards. Such a Convention would formalize agreed principles of multilateral cooperation and improve the efficiency of transboundary water management. I ask you to give due consideration to this proposal, – H.E. Mr. Kassym-Jomart Tokayev stated.

– Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan have begun automating ten sites in the Syr Darya basin. This experience could be scaled across the entire Aral Sea basin. The issue of further institutional development of the Fund also remains relevant, and this process appears to have been somewhat prolonged. As a priority measure, it is proposed to complete the establishment of the Interstate Energy Commission. Practice shows that coordination in the energy sector plays a crucial role in ensuring stable and reliable water supply. Therefore, it is important to synchronize the meetings of the Fund’s water management and energy commissions. We consider it feasible to initially launch the Interstate Energy Commission linked to the Syr Darya basin and subsequently expand it to cover the entire Aral Sea basin. Such a phased approach will help ensure a balance of interests among all states in the region, – noted H.E. Mr. Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.

– As is known, Kyrgyzstan has suspended its participation in the Fund. This is the sovereign right of the Kyrgyz Republic, and Kazakhstan respects it. At the same time, Kazakhstan highly values ongoing working-level contacts between agencies and remains ready for further cooperation. I emphasize that Kyrgyzstan’s experience is extremely important for the sustainable development of Central Asia. Therefore, we believe that sooner or later Kyrgyzstan will resume its participation in IFAS. In any case, we would welcome this. To strengthen the Fund’s role in the region, it is proposed to integrate water issues into the agenda of other multilateral formats, including Consultative Meetings, – said H.E. Mr. Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.

– Today, at the plenary session of the Regional Ecological Summit, I once again raised the initiative to establish an International Water Organization within the United Nations as a specialized agency. The creation of such a structure is a necessity of our time and is recognized by the international water community. It would contribute to consolidating global efforts to ensure water security in the region. Such an organization, operating within the UN mandate, would not harm any country, especially those of Central Asia. Therefore, I once again call for support for this initiative, which could be presented to the UN as a joint proposal of all Central Asian states. In this context, it could be proposed to locate certain segments of UN-Water in several capitals of Central Asia. In addition, to draw further international attention to the preservation of the Aral water system, we propose jointly initiating the establishment of an International Day of the Aral Sea, the Amu Darya, and the Syr Darya under the auspices of the United Nations. All the proposals I have put forward correspond to our common interests and contain no political populism or hidden agenda, – emphasized H.E. Mr. Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.

– The future of our region depends solely on us – on trust-based dialogue and close cooperation between our countries. I appeal to my esteemed fellow Presidents, dear brothers. You are all competent and experienced leaders who understand the importance of the water issue. Without water, there will be no Central Asia; with water, the lives of our younger generation will become better and brighter. As the saying goes, water is life. I am confident that this summit will give strong momentum to the activities of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea and mark the beginning of a new stage of regional cooperation for the benefit of our peoples, – concluded H.E. Mr. Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.