New Heights in Turkmenistan's Water Diplomacy
Today, at the plenary session of the Regional Environmental Summit that commenced in Astana, President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov put forward a significant initiative for the ecological well-being and water resource management of Central Asia. Our Head of State proposed the establishment of a Regional Council on Water Use Issues in Central Asian states under the auspices of the United Nations (UN).
As President Serdar Berdimuhamedov noted, this newly proposed Council could serve as a primary mechanism for unifying and coordinating the efforts of all states in the region to resolve water issues. This initiative marks the next crucial stage of the "water diplomacy" employed by Turkmenistan to ensure peace and sustainable development in the region.
In the Head of State's speech, three core principles were outlined that Turkmenistan strictly follows for the rational and fair use of transboundary water resources:
- Strict adherence to fundamental international conventions and pacts regarding water issues.
- Equal consideration of the interests of all states located along transboundary rivers.
- Active involvement of the UN and other major international organizations in resolving these issues.
The Regional Environmental Summit in Astana, held from April 22nd to April 24th, is notable for its extensive scope. This new initiative proposed by Turkmenistan was met with great interest by the international community, particularly by the UN. The implementation of this proposal will pave the way for a fair resolution of water and energy issues in Central Asia, not only from an economic perspective but also from environmental and humanitarian standpoints.
