Central Asia Regional Cooperation

Central Asia Regional Cooperation:

   The Central Asian countries have signed the Declaration on Environment and Development (Rio - 92)

   The Central Asian countries have affiliated to environmental conventions (1992 - 1998)

   The Central Asian countries, according to ideas of the European Ministerial Conferences on Environmental Protection have joined the NEAP development (Lucerne 1993, Sofia 1995)

   Presidents of the Central Asian countries have approved the Agreement on Joint Actions for the Aral Sea Issues Solution and Environmental Rehabilitation and Socio-Economic Development of the Aral Sea Region. The International Fund for the Aral Sea Rehabilitation, Interstate Coordinating Hydroeconomic Commission and Interstate Commission on Social - Economic Development Scientific and Technical and Environmental Cooperation have been established for the agreement implementation (Kyzyl Orda 1993)

   Presidents of the Central Asian countries have signed the Nukus Declaration, where the following priorities have been identified: elaboration of the Convention on Sustainable development for the Aral Sea basin, assistance to the Interstate Commission on Social - Economic Development Scientific and Technical and Environmental Cooperation (Sustainable Development Commission) (Nukus 1995)

   The Central Asian states have been encouraged in the Regional Environmental Center establishment (REC) under the decision of the Fourth Ministerial Conference on Environmental Protection for Europe (Aarhus 1998)

   The Governmental representatives of the five Central Asian countries have defined the REC location in Almaty (Kazakhstan) and adopted its Charter (Issyk-Kul 1999)

   The Central Asian countries have signed the Agreement of Cooperation in the field of Environmental Protection and Sustainable Environmental Management (1998)

   The Central Asian countries have developed the basis for joint actions. The ISDC Meetings were held with the participation of donor organizations, the organizational issues have been solved and regional priorities on sustainable development have been identified (Tashkent 1994, Ashgabad 1995, Bishkek 1996, Almaty 1997, Tashkent 1998, Chimbulak 1999, Kokshetau 2000)

   Central Asian countries agreed to prepare for the Rio + 10 subregional report. ISCD will play role as subregional preparatory committee and REC will support this process on technical level, including data base system for sustainable development issues.

Resolution of Interstate Sustainable Development Commission

"On Rio + 10 process and regional programmes for sustainable development"

12 April 2001, Kokshetau

   Consider the CA REC information about process to the Earth Summit "Rio + 10" and regional projects for sustainable development

   Request ISDC Secretariat to develop a plan for preparation of the Central Asian region to Rio + 10, for consideration on the sub-regional meeting (ESCAP, DESA) in Almaty, in June 2001

   Agree with the proposal for ISDC to be subregional preparatory committee to Rio + 10 in Central Asia

   In order to support public participation and ensure of the required information about Rio + 10 process for all stakeholders, use the CA REC information programme as the base of information on environment and sustainable development issues in Central Asia

   Propose UNDP and other donors, responsible for support of the preparation process to Rio + 10 in the region, to support ISDC efforts in preparation to Rio + 10

On behalf of the Republic of Kazakhstan/signed/Minister

On behalf of the Kyrgyz Republic/signed/Vice Minister

On behalf of the Republic of Tajikistan/signed/Minister

On behalf of Turkmenistan/signed/Minister

On behalf of the Republic of Uzbekistan/signed/Vice-Minister

Next Steps:

   According to UN recommendations, create the preparatory committees for Rio + 10 on the national level. On Central Asian level the role of this committee should be to implement the Interstate Sustainable Development Commission (ISDC)

   To involve all interested sectors and public in this process, using the UN guidelines and recommendations "101 Ways." To create for this task the public councils and data base on sustainable development issues, using the possibilities of the Central Asian Regional Environmental Center

   To use the subregional meeting ESCAP (Almaty, June 2001) on preparation to Rio + 10 for the next ISDC session and development of this process in Central Asia

   Request to UNDP to speed up approval of the subregional project "Capacity - 21," and address to other donor organizations to assist the cooperation for Central Asia in Rio + 10