Shorouk Express
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, October 11. Two new World
Bank–backed projects may soon be launched in the Aral Sea basin,
Trend reports citing
the Kazakh government.
The government said that 42 environmental initiatives are
already underway in the region. The initiatives were discussed at
the second meeting of the Board of the International Fund for
Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS), chaired by Kazakhstan and held in
Astana.
Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Kanat Bozumbayev emphasized
that the fate of the Aral Sea, the rational and equitable use of
transboundary waters, and the preservation of natural resources are
issues that extend far beyond regional borders.
“These matters form part of the global environmental agenda
linked to sustainable development, food and energy security, and
the quality of life of tens of millions of people. At the recent UN
General Assembly, our leaders stressed the importance of trust,
solidarity, and collective action to protect the environment.
Kazakhstan fully shares this position,” Bozumbayev said.
Participants discussed preparations for the upcoming meeting of
the IFAS Council of Heads of Founding States, scheduled for April
next year, as well as progress on the Executive Committee’s work
plan for Kazakhstan’s 2024–2026 chairmanship.
The meeting also reviewed the implementation of the Action
Program to assist the Aral Sea Basin countries, the Regional
Environmental Protection Program for Sustainable Development in
Central Asia, and the activities of the Working Group on improving
IFAS’s organizational structure and legal framework.
The Executive Committee proposed designating March 26 as the
International Day of the Aral Sea, the Amu Darya, and the Syr Darya
rivers. The session concluded with a signing ceremony of the
Board’s adopted decisions.
