SEMINAR IN KYRGYZSTAN DISCUSSES ISSUES RELATED TO INTEGRATED CONTROL OVER CENTRAL ASIA'S WATER RESOURCES

DUSHANBE, September 27 (RIA Novosti) - Issues related to integrated control over Central Asia's water resources will be central on the agenda of the international conference-cum-seminar that will take place in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan's capital, on September 27-28. Four regional countries, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenia, will take part in the event, according to Anatoly Kholmatov, Technical Director of the Executive Committee of the International Foundation for the Salvation of the Aral Sea.

Mr Kholmatov said the conferees would discuss a draft strategy for the switchover to an integrated control over water resources, which covers the basins of the transborder rivers of Chu and Talas between Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, and Vakhsh and Amudarya between Tajikistan and Turkmenistan.

"The draft strategy entitled 'Arrangements for Regional Control over Water Resources and Enhancing Water Entities' Potential for Effective Resources Management' will be submitted to the member-countries' governments after experts have discussed it. It is designed to help switch over from the command and administrative control methods to the basin-based principle," said Mr Kholmatov.

The European Union has supported the project financially as it has allocated 2.15 million euros on it, which includes the delivery of equipment for monitoring water resources in Central Asia.