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Almaty hosts summit of presidents of Central Asian states that founded International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea

28 April 2009 12:09 (UTC +04:00)

Almaty. Laman Agayeva â€“ APA. The summit of presidents of Central Asian states that founded International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea has started in Almaty today, APAâ€™s correspondent in Kazakhstan reports. Scientists, experts and ecologists from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan are attending the summit. Ecological situation around the basin, revival of the Aral and protection of the health of people living around the Aral Sea have been discussed at the summit. The summit participants have discussed the issues connected with activity of the fund, formation of the new structure of the IFAR authorized bodies - Boards, Executive Committee and Revision Committee, as well as activation of cooperation with the international organizations, financial structures and donors. President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev said the global crisis could not impede the activities planned for saving the Aral Sea. He said that International Bank of Asia, European Union and a number of donors had joined to investigate the problems of the Aral. Final document was not adopted at the summit because of the disputable issue over water between the presidents of Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan.
International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea was established under the decision of presidents of Central Asian states in 1993. The founders of the fund are Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.