OSCE supports Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan in managing transboundary water resources

BISHKEK, 6 February 2009 - More than 20 experts and government officials from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and the OSCE are meeting in Bishkek today to discuss transboundary water resources.

In response to regular difficulties with managing jointly used water infrastructure and resource allocation on the Chu and Talas rivers, the governments of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan signed an agreement on the use of water management infrastructure in 2000 and, with the help of a joint OSCE/UNECE/UNESCAP project, established a joint commission on the use of the rivers' water in 2006.

The Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities, with support from Finland and in partnership with the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, is continuing its work with the countries and their commission with a project to update methodologies of co-funding and develop unified methodologies for measuring water volumes, among other activities.

"This meeting brings together officials and technical experts, and offers a good chance to discuss our future steps and activities, to improve the work of the commission and clearly define an implementing strategy," said Barataly Koshmatov, the Co-Chairman of the Chu-Talas Commission from Kyrgyzstan.

"The first OSCE project on the Chu and Talas rivers constituted a breakthrough in water relations in Central Asia, and demonstrated a new approach to solve issues related to the shared responsibility and management of transboundary water resources," said Saba Nordstrom, Environmental Adviser of the OSCE.

Participants will present the planned activities under the project at today's meeting, which will be followed by a meeting of the secretariat of the joint commission.