Turkmenistan, Ashgabat, Oct. 3 / Trend H. Hasanov /
Uzbekistan welcomed Turkmenistan's joining the UN Convention on the Protection and Use of Trans boundary Watercourses and International Lakes dated March 17, 1992, Uzbek President Islam Karimov said during a visit to Ashgabat, the local media reported.
"We appreciate the constructive relations between our countries in the use of water resources in the region and acknowledge our common positions on these issues," the Uzbek president was quoted by Neutral Turkmenistan newspaper as saying.
According to a joint statement signed by the Uzbek and Turkmen Presidents, the presidents stressed the need to consider the use of trans boundary water resources in Central Asia on the basis of universally recognised norms and principles of international law, taking into account the interests of all countries of the region.
'Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan stressed that any actions capable of affecting the natural flow of trans boundary rivers in the region including the implementation of projects for the construction of new large hydroelectric power facilities cannot be taken without the consent of all concerned parties', a statement said.
The presidents stressed the need for further development of the various forms of cooperation and improvement of bilateral political consultations.
Earlier the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) welcomed the Turkmen parliament's decision to accede to this Convention.
This document was adopted as part of the 15th session of the Majlis (the Turkmen Parliament) of the fourth convocation. The Convention was adopted in Helsinki (Finland) on March 17,1992 and came into force on October 6, 1996
The Economic Commission for Europe stated that the decision of the Turkmen Parliament is an important step in strengthening trans boundary water cooperation and integrated governance of water resources. This agreement is very important for the country. Around 80-90 per cent of rain falls to deserts.
Turkmenistan borders with Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Iran and Afghanistan, and uses the water resources in accordance with the agreed quota of the four trans boundary rivers namely the Amu Darya, Tedzhen, Atrek and Murghab.
Turkmenistan's accession to the Convention on trans boundary watercourses is essential for the political, economic and environmental cooperation in Central Asia, the UNECE said.