OSCE Centre takes part in discussion on transboundary water management co-operation in Central Asia

Representatives of the OSCE Centre in Astana joined some forty Central Asian water authority officials, non-governmental organization representatives and independent experts on 20 December 2012 in Almaty, Kazakhstan to discuss the introduction of integrated water resource management principles into the administration of three small transboundary rivers: the Aspar, the Isfara and the Ugam flowing through all Central Asian countries.

At the meeting Ambassador Natalia Zarudna, the Head of the OSCE Centre in Astana, said that the OSCE Centre attaches great importance to contributing to the dialogue on regional water management issues. She encouraged the participants to enhance co-operation and the sharing of best practices: “Improved co-operation and co-ordination among the Central Asian countries is necessary for water management sector reform and for the sustainable development of the entire region. Bilateral planning and a common approach to monitoring water use and gauging water quality can also benefit  co-operation on the political level.”

The meeting was organized by the Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (CAREC) and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and was held as part of a project to promote transboundary co-operation on small watersheds in Central Asia.