New Dates in Regional Cooperation: A Special Day Established for the Aral Sea, Amu Darya, and Syr Darya

During the working visit of President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov to the Republic of Kazakhstan, historic steps were taken in Central Asian environmental diplomacy. The regular meeting of the Council of the Heads of the Founder States of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS), held in Astana, was rich not only in economic discussions but also in ecological solutions vital for the region's future.

As one of the most significant outcomes of the meeting, a new commemorative date was created to preserve the region's water resources and draw the international community's attention to this direction. From now on, March 26 of each year will be celebrated as the "Day of the Aral Sea, Amu Darya, and Syr Darya."

This decision serves as evidence of the regional states' commitment to a careful approach toward natural resources and the positive resolution of the Aral issue.

Within the framework of the meeting, several important documents of regional interest were approved:

• Astana Declaration: A document defining the priority areas for future cooperation among the fund's founding states.
• Election of the New President of IFAS: A decision adopted regarding the renewal of the Fund's leadership.
• Results of the Presidency: An evaluation of the work completed by the Republic of Kazakhstan during its term as Chair of the Fund.

This meeting once again demonstrated that the common environmental problems of Central Asia—especially the challenges related to the Aral Sea and the two main rivers of the region—can only be solved through unity. The newly established date, March 26, will provide a fresh impetus for enhancing environmental culture and water resource management in the region.

According to information provided by the "Watan" news program, these documents are fully aligned with the environmental initiatives that Turkmenistan consistently promotes in the international arena.