Report about the events 2003

On February 2002 in Almaty set of events devoted to 10-anniversary of Interstate Coordination Water Commission foundation was conducted:

• ICWC 32nd anniversary meeting;
• Scientific-applied Conference «Water Resources of Central Asia»;
• III Central-Asian Water Technologies Exhibition;
• Meeting of donors and ICWC members;
• Regional Conference of Global Water Partnership for Central-Asian and Caucasian countries.

In that time it was decided to conduct annually Central-Asian Scientific-applied Conference in Almaty.

Following events held on 5-8 of May 2003:

• 36^th meeting of Interstate Coordination Water Commission of Central Asia
• Central-Asian International Scientific-Applied Conference “Environmental Sustainability and Advanced Approaches to Water Resources Management in the Aral Sea Basin”
• IV Central-Asian Exhibition of Water Technologies “Water’ 2003”
• Common session of ICWC, GWP, and SDC “Ways of integrated water resources principles in the Aral Sea basin”
• Meeting of Regional Technical Advisory Committee of Global Water Partnership of Central Asia and Caucasus

Together with ICWC members and their authorized representatives — A.D. Ryabtsev, J.B. Bekbolotov, A.A. Nazyrov, T.A. Altiyev, Kh.K. Gapparov — ICWC honored members — N.K. Kipshakbayev and A. Shady, EC IFAS Chairman S.M. Aslov, IFAS and ICWC executive bodies, representatives of water management bodies from Russia, Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan took part in these events.

Also many foreign guests took active part in these events — representatives of Swiss Development Agency (SDC), World Bank (WB), Asian Development Bank (ADB), Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), USAID, European Union, Global Water Partnership (GWP), International Water Management Institute (IWMI), Lisbon University, and others.

Organizators:

• Interstate Coordination Water Commission of Central Asia (ICWC)
• Committee for Water Resources of Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan
• Water Resources Department of Ministry of Agriculture, Water Resources and Processing Industry of the Kyrgyz Republic
• Ministry of Reclamation and Water Resources of the Republic of Tajikistan
• Ministry of Water Resources of Turkmenistan
• Water Resources Department of Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources of the Republic of Uzbekistan
• Swiss Agency for International Development and Cooperation (SDC)
• International Fund for the Aral Sea saving
• Scientific-Information Center ICWC
• Kazakhstan International Exhibition Company “Atakent-Expo”
• BWO “Syrdarya”
• BWO “Amudarya”
• Regional Technical Advisory Committee of Global Water Partnership of Central Asia and Caucasus

Sponsors:

• Committee for Water Resources of Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan
• Swiss Agency for International Development and Cooperation (SDC)
• Scientific-Information Center ICWC
• Kazakhstan International Exhibition Company “Atakent-Expo”
• Regional Technical Advisory Committee of Global Water Partnership of Central Asia and Caucasus

Information support:

• Scientific-Information Center ICWC
• Kazakhstan International Exhibition Company “Atakent-Expo”

36^th ICWC Meeting

Regular 36th meeting of Interstate Coordination Water Commission was held on May 6-7, 2003 in Almaty, Kazakhstan under presidency of A.D. Ryabtsev — Chairman of Committee for Water Resources of Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Meeting agenda supposed following issues consideration:

1. Specification of both reservoir cascades operation regimes and water intake limits in the Amudarya and Syrdarya river basin for growing period 2003.
2. About BWO “Syrdarya” activity and its improvement measures.
3. About fulfillment of Head of the States of Central Asia decision of 06.10.02 (Dushanbe) «About “Basic aspects of Program of concrete actions on improvement of environmental and social-economic situation in the Aral Sea basin for period 2003-2010” (ASBP-2)» in water management.
4. About results of ICWC members and representatives of water organizations of Central Asia participation in 3rd World Water Forum.
5. About continuation of implementing GEF Project Sub-Component A1 «Water and salt management at regional and national level».
6. Water use principles under conditions of reforms on agricultural enterprises restructuring in each state
7. About next 37th ICWC meeting agenda and place.

ICWC members approved specified water intake limits and reservoir cascades operation regimes for growing period 2003 with correction of reservoir cascades operation regime on Syrdarya River according to provisions of bi- and trilateral intergovernmental agreements.

Meeting participants noted that BWO “Syrdarya” is carrying out satisfactory work on keeping recommended regimes of Naryn-Syrdarya reservoir cascade operation regimes and approved water intake limits over Naryn-Syrdarya trunk as well as introducing water intake structures'’ automated control system and improving water account.

BWO "Syrdarya" was charged to:

• strengthen activity on uniform water supply on canal systems and water intakes according to approved limits;
• complete works on automation of main hydraulic intake structures in 3-year period;
• provide information for water management bodies of the states about all deviations from planned and coordinated regime of water diversions and releases.

To fulfill these tasks ICWC members A.D. Ryabtsev, A.A. Jalalov, and A.A. Nazyrov will promote BWO “Syrdarya” activity on:

• financing of required volumes of repair-operational works;
• specified conditions of crossing state boundaries by organizations’ workers.

ICWC members took into account draft report of Working Group-1 about preparation of ASBP-2 water management proposals.

Enclosed list of projects on established priorities, with account for comments and proposals was approved in general. It was decided to complete report on water management by the end of May to prepare consolidated report on ASBP-2 for forthcoming technical meeting of donors on June 20-22, 2003.

Meeting participants asked EC IFAS to search appropriate means to involve highly qualified experts in preparation of project description (certificate) as well as generalization of fulfilled water works under ASBP-2.

Participants took into consideration information about results of ICWC members and Central-Asian water organizations’ representatives participation in 3 World Water Forum (WWF) and underlined big attention of the world community to the Aral Sea basin session.

Statement of the Aral Sea basin states’ delegations prepared under active participation of state representatives was approved.

Meeting participants asked EC IFAS Chairman S.M. Aslov to submit this statement to Kiev Meeting of Ministers of Environment in May 2003 as ICWC official position.

ICWC members adopted protocol decision to consider phase VI of GEF Project Sub-component A1 “Water and Salt Management at Regional and National Level” completed only after GEF Agency takes into account all comments noted in protocols and EC IFAS adopts the report.

To make final decision on this issue, it is planned to conduct in the nearest future additional meeting with participation of EC IFAS Chairman and GEF Agency Director.

It was noted that on-going reforms in agriculture demand revision of not only institutional management structure, but also water use guidelines. SIC ICWC was entrusted to study experience and obtained results of pilot projects implemented in region and develop proposals on their expansion. More detailed information and analysis of present situation should be submitted at the next ICWC meeting.

ICWC members made decision to conduct 37th ICWC meeting in Turkmenistan in period within August-September 2003 and approved its agenda.

On ICWC meeting

Central-Asian International Scientific-Applied Conference “Environmental Sustainability and Advanced Approaches to Water Resources Management in the Aral Sea Basin”

More than 150 scientists and water experts from more than 10 countries took part in the conference work, which was held on May 6-8, 2003.

Conduction of this conference could be impossible without financial support of Swiss Agency for International Development and Cooperation (SDC).

Conference work was organized as plenary session and 3-sections sessions:

• Water management arrangement;
• Technical and economical improvement of water management;
• Environmental aspects of water use and management.

On plenary session ICWC members, ICWC executive bodies’ heads, representatives of SDC and CIDA presented their reports.

On sectional sessions issues of river flow use present situation and prospects, environmental stabilization in South and North Priaralie, environmental aspects of water resources use in the Amudarya and Syrdarya basins and their quality, integrated water issues and water saving, river flow regulation impact on lowlands’ ecosystem sustainability, drinking water quality assessment and its impact on population diseases rate, fish supplies use prospects in the Aral Basin, water-power management problems, etc.

ICWC members and working bodies, representatives of EC IFAS, scientific and production water and environmental community, with involvement of international organizations and GWP RTNK members, having discussed basic trends of further cooperation development between Central-Asian countries in water resources field, agreed:

Adopt as a base of further water activity improvement statement of ASB state delegations on session “Regional cooperation in integrated water management in Central Asia” announced on 3WWF in Japan.

Experience of Switzerland, the Netherlands, and other European Union countries, Canada, Japan, orient Central-Asian countries in water problem solution on some principal aspects:

• prevention of further aggravation, protection and improvement of aquatic ecosystems;
• integrated water resources management creating transparent, equal and equitable water use conditions;
• basic attention to involvement of public and all water users in management,
• planning, and development of water management works and water resources;
• water conservation;
• introduction of economic levers in water use and development;
• bringing up future generations in spirit of high respect to cultural heritage in water field.

“Dostyk” Hotel — Conference place

Plenary Session Presidium

Plenary Session

Presentation of SIC ICWC Director, Prof. V.А. Dukhovny

Presentation of ICWC honored member, CIDA consultant А. Shady

IV Central-Asian Exhibition of Water Technologies “Water’ 2003”

ICWC members took part in exhibition opening ceremony.

In 2003 ICWC, SIC ICWC, and IFAS participated in exhibition for the first time.

Exhibition Opening Ceremony

Exhibition: upper look

ICWC booth

SIC ICWC booth

ICWC members, ICWC executive bodies heads and guests are visiting exhibition WATER’ 2003

Exhibition participant diploma

Common session of ICWC, GWP, and SDC “Ways of integrated water resources principles in the Aral Sea basin”

More than 145 persons — ICWC members and ICWC, representatives of EC IFAS executive bodies, water experts from Central-Asian countries and regional organizations, representatives of SDC, project “IWRM-Ferghana”, IWMI, GWP in Central Asia and Caucasus, NGO, international organizations, journalists, and mass media took part in session.

Chairman of Committee for Water Resources of Kazakhstan A.D. Ryabtsev and D. Knobel from SDC greeted session participants.

Practical session work started from review report “Introduction of integrated water resources management principles in Central Asia — the imperative of our era”, which V.I. Sokolov — Regional “IWRM-Ferghana” Project Manager has presented. He demonstrated why it is necessary to change water management principles in region and what concrete actions must be taken. On example of IWRM-Ferghana project details on specific aspects — IWRM legal basis, institutional reconstruction, problems solved by means of WUA, measures on water and land productivity increase, and other activity kinds — were presented.

Further discussion on different aspects of integrated water management implementation principles was divided in three blocks in form of open discussion on each block.

The first block (till afternoon) was dedicated to theme “Trends of institutional water management reforms and practical issues of Water Users Association establishing and development in Central Asia”. SIC ICWC Director V.A. Dukhovny led discussion process. During this discussion following officials expressed their opinion: A.D. Ryabtsev — Chairman of the Committee for Water Resources of Kazakhstan, J. Bekbolotov — Director General of Water Department at MAWR and PI of the Kyrgyz Republic, A.A. Nazyrov — Minister of Reclamation and Water Resources of Tajikistan, T.K. Altiyev — Deputy Minister of Water Resources of Turkmenistan, Kh.K. Gapparov — Head of Water Division at MAWR of the Republic of Uzbekistan, A.S. Satybaldiyev — Office Manager of IWRM-Ferghana Project in Osh, U. Herren — SDC Office Manager in Central Asia, M.A. Pinkhasov — Manger of IWRM-Ferghana Project activity at WUA level, M. ul Hassan — IWRM-Ferghana Project Manager from IWMI. There are new approaches to definition of water policy, problems of IWRM legal basis and financing system.

In the afternoon the second block of discussion on issue “Ways of irrigation water efficiency and tools required for IWRM principles implementation” was organized. Regional Manager of IWRM-Ferghana Project V.I. Sokolov conducted discussion. During this discussion following officials expressed their opinion: Sh.Sh. Mukhamejanov — Manger of IWRM-Ferghana Project activity; А. Akhrorov — National Coordinator of IWRM-Ferghana Project from Tajikistan; I. Аbdullayev (IWMI); B.E. Matraimov — Head of Basin Unit, Osh oblast, Kyrgyz Republic; T.G. Cholokava — Head of Unit at Ministry of Environment of Georgia. Two presentations — S.A. Nerozin (SANIIRI) “Certification of demonstration fields — as tool of water and land productivity increase” and E.D. Cholpankulov (SIC ICWC) “Model for assessment of agricultural crop water consumption and irrigation regime” — were presented as a tools.

Final block of open discussion was devoted to theme “Public involvement in water resources management process”. IWRM-Ferghana Project Manager from IWMI M. ul Hassan conducted discussion process. During this discussion following officials expressed their opinion: U. Kamalov — Chaiman of NGO “Eco-Ferghana”; G. Jamukashvili — Chaiman of Association “Kura-Araks”; B. Esekin — REC CA Executive Director; S. Aknazarov — Ecoforum of Kazakhstan; E.M. Rodina — Ecological movement “Biom”; R. Nazarov — expert-sociologist of IWRM-Ferghana Project; E.V. Lanko — Chief Editor of magazine “Engineering”.

During discussion concrete proposals of public (NGO and WUA) involvement in water resources management were considered. In particular, creation of Public Water Council in the Aral Sea basin as well as similar Council in Caucasus (activity program and funding sources) was considered.

Session Presidium

Panel of experts

Session participants

Report of V.I. Sokolov

Meeting of Regional Technical Advisory Committee of Global Water Partnership of Central Asia and Caucasus

In the meeting 9 of 13 RTAC members representing 5 of 8 region countries as well as specially invited NGO representatives took part. B. Guterstam – Officer on relations with regions of GWP Secretary (Stockholm, Sweden) and V. Sokolov – RTAC CAC Chairman greeted participants.

Meeting work started by presenting GWP CAC work program and budget for 2003, presented by V. Sokolov. While discussing details of program implementation, participants addressed issues of coordination procedures (administrative part of program) as well as thematic part:

• GWP CAC web-site establishment.
• Participation in alliances (International Network of Basin Organizations (INBO), CapNET — network on capacity strengthening, program on ground water (GWMate).
• Dialogues (IWRM and transboundary problems, environment conservation, public participation).
• Organization of national water partnerships.
• Participation in international measures (Kiev Pan-European Conference of Ministers of Environment, annual meeting of GWP partners in Stockholm (August), Water Summit in Dushanbe (August-September).
• Next RTAC meeting and annual regional conference GWP CAC (Tbilisi, December 2003).

Meeting participants discussed proposal of H. Larsen (DHI) on Danish Government involvement in establishing bilateral cooperation of RTAC GWP CAC with Mekong Commission.

It was decided to use opportunity of sending delegation from our region to Mekong River basin in December 2003 to study experience in process of peace and stability establishing within framework of water management.

Meeting participants also discussed in details draft GWP CAC program for 2004-2008. It was decided to submit this document with some supplements for GWP Secretary (Stockholm) for funding support.

Next RTAC CAC meeting is planned to conduct in August 2003 in Dushanbe under International Water Summit auspice.

Special thanks to

- Swiss Agency for International Development and Cooperation and personally Mr. H. Мааg, Mr. J. Kraehenbuehl, Mr. U. Herren, Mr. J. Gely

- International Exhibition Company “Atakent-Expo” and personally Mrs. I.А. Petukhova

for assistance in conference conduction