Uzbekistan stands for cooperation between Central Asian countries in the field of ensuring water security

During the last years the issues of ensuring water security are becoming an urgent task for the region of Central Asia. At the same time the prior direction of foreign policy of the Republic of Uzbekistan is the development of cooperation with the countries of Central Asia. In particular, in the strategy “Uzbekistan – 2030” practical cooperation in the Central Asian region is taken to a qualitatively new level, including strengthening close cooperation with the countries of the region in various fields, especially ecology and nature protection, rational use of water resources (goal 91) and the search for a phased solution to water problems in our country (goals 62-73) are listed as priority goals.

Most of the water resources of Central Asia are formed as a result of the melting of snow and glaciers in the Tien Shan, Hindu Kush and Pamir mountains and merge into common water sources, mainly in the Syr Darya and Amu Darya. In this context it should be noted that most of the population of Central Asia is engaged in agricultural activities, a significant part of the energy needs of the region is met by hydropower resources, and the annual growth of demographic indicators outstrips the increase in water demand.

The analysis of the available data shows that since the first day of independence of the republics of Central Asia, they began to analyze the situation in the field of transboundary water resources and create mutually beneficial mechanisms for cooperation in this direction. On the initiative of Uzbekistan, on October 12, 1991, the first important political step – The Tashkent statement of the heads of national water agencies of the Central Asian countries was accepted. This situation became the starting point of the negotiation process between the countries of the region in the field of the use of transboundary water resources, as a result of that an intergovernmental the agreements “On cooperation in joint management of use and protection of water resources of interstate sources” and “On the establishment of Interstate Commission for Water Coordination” were signed in Almaty on February 18, 1992.

In this context it is important to note that Interstate Commission for Water Coordination includes a secretariat, two basin organizations of the Syr Darya and Amu Darya rivers and a scientific information center. The Commission is engaged in the development of a regional water policy, integrated and rational use of regional water resources, a long-term water supply program, and annual water use standards for each republic of the region.

In addition, in March 1993, with the cooperation of the leaders of the region, the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea was established in order to put an end to the environmental crisis and improve the socio-economic situation related to water in the Aral Sea basin. At its first meeting, held on July 13, 1993 in Tashkent, a “Concept of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan on resolving the problems of the Aral sea region taking into account the socio-economic development of the region (main provisions)” was developed. The uniqueness of the fund is that it is a mechanism for jointly resolving current issues related to water use in the region.

Currently, the role of our country in cooperation between the states of the region and joining common efforts to ensure water security is becoming more important. In 2016, the election of Sh.M. Mirziyoyev as President of the Republic of Uzbekistan was a turning point in water relations in Central Asia. Officially, Tashkent has developed relations with neighboring countries in bilateral and multilateral formats to solve water problems, and has begun to promote regional approaches and initiatives to ensure water security. In this regard, the Republic of Uzbekistan consistently contributes to the consideration and resolution of all issues related to the use of transboundary water resources in Central Asia and water security, taking into account generally recognized norms of international law, mutual respect and interests of the region countries.

Speaking about the bilateral cooperation of the Republic of Uzbekistan with the countries of the region, first of all, it is necessary to focus on water relations with the countries located in the upper reaches of transboundary rivers – Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. In particular, the government of Uzbekistan has begun to support the construction of the Rogun HPS in Tajikistan, subject to taking into account the national interests of the republic. In 2018, the parties also reached a general agreement on the issue of the Farkhod HPS, which became a historic turning point in interstate relations. An agreement has been reached between the two countries on the joint use of water and energy resources in the Zarafshan River basin (a source of irrigation for 560 thousand hectares of fertile irrigated land in Samarkand, Navoi and partially Bukhara and Jizzakh regions). The parties jointly agreed to build two hydroelectric power plants with a total capacity of 320 MW on this river. At the same time, in August 2024 at a meeting of the joint working group on the integrated use of water resources of Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, the implementation of new joint cross-border projects in the field of water management between the two countries including, the use of  Sarez Lake to provide clean drinking water to other countries of the region and the Asian continent were considered.

At the same time, the Uzbek side has signed a number of agreements on water relations with Kyrgyzstan. A striking example of this is that in 2019 a mutually beneficial agreement was reached on the Karkidon reservoir and in 2022 the two countries signed an agreement on joint management of water resources of the Andijan (Kampir-Abad) reservoir. In addition, official Tashkent announced its readiness to participate in the construction of hydroelectric facilities in Kyrgyzstan. As a result, in 2024, the Ministries of Energy of Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan signed a trilateral agreement on preparations for the construction and operation of the Kambarata HPS-1 project, and a Coordinating Donor Committee for its construction, including the World Bank, The OPEC Fund, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, the Islamic Development Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and others.

The Republic of Uzbekistan emphasizes the need to intensify not only bilateral, but also multilateral relations to ensure water security in Central Asia and puts forward a number of proposals and initiatives at meetings within the region. In particular, in order to mitigate water problems in Central Asia, on the initiative of the official government of Uzbekistan, a high-level meeting in the field of ensuring water security in the region was held in the city of Turkmenbashi on August 6, 2021. Following the meeting, the five Central Asian republics signed a joint statement in which they stressed the importance of water and energy issues and existing as well as hydropower facilities under construction, taking into account the interests of the countries of the region. This approach indicates that common interests have emerged in the region in the use of transboundary waters.

In general, the conclusion of the meeting in Turkmenbashi, became a successful example of practical cooperation between neighboring countries in the current difficult situation. At the beginning of the winter season, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan agreed to supply Kyrgyzstan with the necessary amount of electricity during the growing season in exchange for water supply from the Tokhtagul HPS. Also, additional energy flows from Turkmenistan to Kyrgyzstan were sent in transit through the territory of our republic.

It should be noted that the main purpose of the high-level meeting of the heads of state of Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan, held in Ashgabat on August 4, 2023, was to coordinate the issue of ensuring water security in Central Asia. In particular, within the framework of this meeting, the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Sh.M. Mirziyoyev proposed to intensify cooperation in areas such as the introduction of advanced water-saving technologies and the modernization of irrigation systems, the digitalization of water management processes, and the joint development of infrastructure for the collection and storage of mudflow and flood water. In his speech, the Head of our state stated that the countries of Central Asia should not only use the potential of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea, but also use cooperation with partner organizations and structures, such as the World Bank and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.

In August of this year, at the summit of consultative meeting of the heads of states of Central Asia countries held in Astana, Sh.M. Mirziyoyev proposed to develop and adopt a “Regional strategy for rational use of water resources of transboundary rivers”. It should be noted, that the adoption of this document lays the foundation for the effective use of existing transboundary waters in Central Asia, the formation and development of a regional approach in this regard and, in general, the development and implementation of a unified policy of the countries of the region to ensure water security.

It should be noted that, speaking about ensuring water security in Central Asia, special attention should be paid to the construction of the Koshtepa canal. The full-fledged operation of this canal and the unilateral water policy of the Afghan side can aggravate the current situation in the region and radically change the order and balance of water use. In this regard, the Head of our state, in his speech at a meeting of the Council of Heads of Founder States of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea on September 15, 2023, stated the need to form a joint working group to study all aspects of the construction of the Koshtepa canal and its impact on the water regime of the Amu Darya with the involvement of research institutes of our countries, as well as to consider the issue of involving representatives of Afghanistan in the regional dialogue on the sharing of water resources.

In conclusion, we note that the observed water-related problems in Central Asia require the implementation of coordinated and consistent measures. In order to effectively ensure water security in the region, it is considered necessary for states to pursue policies not only at the national but also at the regional level and develop mutually beneficial cooperation relations. Realizing this fact, the Republic of Uzbekistan is developing bilateral and multilateral water relations with the countries of the region, which may become an important factor in ensuring water security in Central Asia in the near future.

PhD, Associate Professor Gulamov A.G.