In Central Asia, UN-backed water project paves the way for further cooperation

26 July 2006 – Water relations in Central Asia take a significant step forward today with the inauguration of the United Nations-supported Chu-Talas Rivers Commission involving Kazakhstan and landlocked Kyrgyzstan, with the world body saying the agreement provides a model for cooperation for other trans-boundary river basins in the region.

As part of the bilateral deal, Kazakhstan has agreed to pay part of the operating and maintenance expenses for a number of Kyrgyz dams and reservoirs supplying water to both countries, the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) said in a press release.

“The Chu-Talas River Commission is an eloquent symbol of the spirit of cooperation to address trans-boundary issues of common concern. It lays the foundation for future cooperation in achieving more sustainable growth in these two countries and in Central Asia,” said Kim Hak-Su, UNESCAP Executive Secretary.

The setting up of the Commission, inaugurated in the Kyrgyz capital Bishkek, is supported by a joint project implemented by UNESCAP and the Geneva-based UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), along with the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).

UNECE Executive Secretary Marek Belka congratulated Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan for their constructive collaboration, noting in a statement that they set an example for future water relations in Central Asia.

Press release

OSCE helps Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan find ways to share water resources

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, 26 July 2006 - The first meeting of the recently formed Chu-Talas Rivers Commission, set up to better manage water resources in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, was held today in Bishkek.

Under a joint project, implemented by the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities, the OSCE Centre in Kazakhstan, the United Nations' Economic Commission for Europe and the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, relevant ministries and agencies of both countries will work closely to better manage the water resources.

"The sharing of water resources, in particular between upstream and downstream countries, is often characterized by tension and insecurity," said Bernard Snoy, Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities. "We are glad that Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan have found a mutually beneficial way to oversee the water infrastructure used by both countries." Kazakhstan has agreed to pay part of the operating and maintenance expenses for a number of Kyrgyz dams and reservoirs which supply water to both countries. A bilateral commission will now start implementing the agreement, a breakthrough in water relations in Central Asia.

The international community has supported the commission's formation, with the European Union implementing a project on integrated water resources management in the basins of the Chu and Talas rivers, and the Asian Development Bank providing support for setting up the commission's secretariat and renovating some infrastructure on the rivers.

"Applying the example of Kazakh-Kyrgyz co-operation in water resource sharing in other transboundary river basins in Central Asia could help solve the region's water needs and serve as a confidence-building measure towards ensuring security in the region," added Mr. Snoy.

A regional conference, which will allow to disseminate the achieved experience on the transboundary water management to other Central Asian countries, will take place later in the day.

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http://www.adb.org/Documents/News/URM/urm-200609.asp

Chu-Talas Joint Rivers Commission Established Under ADB Project

TASHKENT, UZBEKISTAN (2 August 2006) - Government officials from Kazakhstan and the Kyrgyz Republic have inaugurated a joint commission to help strengthen interstate water resource management and cooperation.

The Chu-Talas Joint Rivers Commission (CTJRC) was inaugurated in Bishkek on 26 July under an ADB regional grant project to strengthen cooperation among the Central Asian Republics in shared water resource management in the Aral Sea Basin.

Under the grant, ADB has been supporting water agencies of the two countries in the setting up of CTJRC to demonstrate good basin management practices for the region. Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan will have equal standing in the Commission, and each country will report to its water management agency. As part of the bilateral deal, Kazakhstan has agreed to pay part of the operating and maintenance expenses for a number of water facilities of Kyrgyz Republic supplying water to both countries.

"The setting up of the CTJRC is an important step forward in improving transboundary water management in the region on a bilateral basis," says Rustam Abdukayumov, Project Management Officer administrating this project from ADB's Uzbekistan Resident Mission. "It is a result of a coordinated effort by the international donor agencies and the governments of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyz Republic."

More than 60 participants attended the inauguration ceremony, including representatives of ADB, UN Economic Commission for Europe, UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, EU TACIS, Swiss Development Cooperation Agency, Japan International Cooperation Agency, and International Fund for Saving Aral Sea. The participants noted ADB's strong assistance to Kazakhstan and the Kyrgyz Republic in establishing a Chui Talas Joint River Commission and emphasized the need for continuing such collaboration in the future.

In addition to the inauguration, a Technical Secretariat of the Chui and Talas Joint River Commission of Kazakhstan and the Kyrgyz Republic and working groups held a meeting to discuss the progress achieved to date and plans to streamline the work of the Commission.

The Secretariat co-chairs and working groups reported on their accomplishments, including a review of existing interstate agreements on the use of facilities on the Chui and Talas river basins and recommendations for their improvements, development of a computer model for water allocation on the Chui and Talas rivers under different scenarios, an inventory of infrastructure for urgent repair, a system for environmentally sound water allocation, as well as improved transparency of water forecasts through enhanced monitoring.

The $700,000 regional technical assistance project was approved in 2003 and its first component is aimed at improving trans-boundary water management on a pilot basis in the Chu and Talas river basins in the Kyrgyz Republic and Kazakhstan. For this purpose ADB provided funding to support the Joint Kazakh-Kyrgyz Secretariat and four working groups on legal and institutional issues; annual water allocation; rehabilitation of hyrdo-technical facilities; and economic, environmental issue, monitoring and data exchange.

ADB has been helping individual countries in Central Asia bring in key policy reforms in the water sector, strengthen existing and develop new institutions such as basin administrations and water users associations, and rehabilitate main irrigation and water supply infrastructure. This has been supported by $270 million of funding from ADB to the Central Asian republics.

ADB, based in Manila, is dedicated to reducing poverty in the Asia and Pacific region through pro-poor sustainable economic growth, social development, and good governance. Established in 1966, it is owned by 66 members - 46 from the region. In 2005, it approved loans and grants for projects totaling $6.95 billion, and technical assistance amounting to $198.8 million.

Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan inaugurate Chu-Talas rivers commission

Publication: US Fed News Service, Including US State News
Date: Monday, July 24 2006

The United Nations Economic and Social Council's Economic Commission for Europe issued the following news release:

Water relations in Central Asia will take a significant step forward on 26 July 2006 when the newly created Chu-Talas Rivers Commission is inaugurated in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.

The Chu-Talas Rivers Commission represents a mutually beneficial way for Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan to share the responsibility for water infrastructure used by both countries. As part of the bilateral agreement, Kazakhstan has agreed to pay part of the operating and maintenance expenses for a number of Kyrgyz dams and reservoirs supplying water to both countries.

According to UN officials, this represents a significant step towards addressing a contentious issue and achieving a breakthrough in water relations in Central Asia, as the sharing of water resources, in particular between upstream and downstream countries, is often characterized by tension and insecurity.

"The Chu-Talas River Commission is an eloquent symbol of the spirit of cooperation to address transboundary issues of common concern. It lays the foundation for future cooperation in achieving more sustainable growth in these two countries and in Central Asia," remarked Mr. Kim Hak-Su, Executive Secretary of UNESCAP. He congratulates Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan for this breakthrough.

The Executive Secretary of UNECE, Mr. Marek Belka, congratulates Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan for their constructive collaboration on water issues that sets an example for future water relations in Central Asia.

The establishment of the Chu-Talas Rivers Commission has been supported by a joint project implemented by two United Nations regional commissions - the Geneva-based UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and the Bangkok-based UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) - and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).

The Statute of the Rivers Commission has been prepared and agreed on by the concerned ministries and agencies of both countries, and the bilateral Commission will now start work to implement a bilateral agreement. Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan have equal standing in the Commission, and each country will report to its water management agency.

The project is part of a coordinated effort by the international community to support the Rivers Commission's formation. The European Union has implemented a project on integrated water resources management in the basins of the Chu and Talas rivers. The Asian Development Bank has provided support for setting up the Commission secretariat and renovating some infrastructure on the rivers.

Applying the example of Kazakh-Kyrgyz cooperation to resource sharing in other transboundary river basins in Central Asia would lead to greater all-around capacity.

Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan Inaugurate the Chu-Talas Rivers Commission

A breakthrough in Central Asian water relations

Geneva and Bangkok, 24 July 2006 -- Water relations in Central Asia will take a significant step forward on 26 July 2006 when the newly created Chu-Talas Rivers Commission is inaugurated in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.

The Chu-Talas Rivers Commission represents a mutually beneficial way for Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan to share the responsibility for water infrastructure used by both countries. As part of the bilateral agreement, Kazakhstan has agreed to pay part of the operating and maintenance expenses for a number of Kyrgyz dams and reservoirs supplying water to both countries.

According to UN officials, this represents a significant step towards addressing a contentious issue and achieving a breakthrough in water relations in Central Asia, as the sharing of water resources, in particular between upstream and downstream countries, is often characterized by tension and insecurity.

“The Chu-Talas River Commission is an eloquent symbol of the spirit of cooperation to address transboundary issues of common concern. It lays the foundation for future cooperation in achieving more sustainable growth in these two countries and in Central Asia,” remarked Mr. Kim Hak-Su, Executive Secretary of UNESCAP. He congratulates Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan for this breakthrough.

The Executive Secretary of UNECE, Mr. Marek Belka, congratulates Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan for their constructive collaboration on water issues that sets an example for future water relations in Central Asia.

The establishment of the Chu-Talas Rivers Commission has been supported by a joint project implemented by two United Nations regional commissions – the Geneva-based UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and the Bangkok-based UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) – and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).

The Statute of the Rivers Commission has been prepared and agreed on by the concerned ministries and agencies of both countries, and the bilateral Commission will now start work to implement a bilateral agreement. Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan have equal standing in the Commission, and each country will report to its water management agency.

The project is part of a coordinated effort by the international community to support the Rivers Commission’s formation. The European Union has implemented a project on integrated water resources management in the basins of the Chu and Talas rivers. The Asian Development Bank has provided support for setting up the Commission secretariat and renovating some infrastructure on the rivers.

Applying the example of Kazakh-Kyrgyz cooperation to resource sharing in other transboundary river basins in Central Asia would lead to greater all-around capacity to meet the region’s water needs.

For more information, please visit http://www.talaschu.org or contact: