1. UNESCO
Groundwater Resources Studies,
Management and Governance
Set up a case study on “Shared Groundwater Resources”
NATIONAL EXPERTS WORKSHOP
Organized by UNESCO IHP with the support of
the National Committee of Kazakhstan for the UNESCO IHP
and the UNESCO Office in Almaty
Sponsored by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation
Almaty, Kazakhstan, 15-16 July 2013
DraftReport
Background
The purpose of the Workshop was to implement the recommendations of the 20th session of the
UNESCO International Hydrological Programme (UNESCO IHP) Intergovernmental Council that
asked the IHP Secretariat to provide support to selected countries to enable them to carry out more indepth studies about their groundwater resources and transboundary aquifers.
The Workshop was also the opportunity to present the activities of the UNESCO International
Hydrological Programme (IHP) to the water resources experts in Kazakhstan and evaluate with them
how to start a project on groundwater resources management and transboundary aquifers during the
period 2013-2015. The project case study will be conducted on the Pretashkent transboundary aquifer.
Thanks to the financial support provided by the Swiss Development Cooperation agency (SDC)
UNESCO will be able to support the activities of the projects that will be conducted by national
experts. As part of the project UNESCO will also support the organization of regional and international
scientific meetings to improve dialogue amongst scientists and decision makers.
The objective of the case study is to improve scientific knowledge on transboundary aquifers and raise
recognition of the importance and vulnerability of groundwater resources and aquifers in the country
and in the region. The case study will serve as a test to apply the UNESCO IHP methodology for the
assessment of shared aquifers as well as to define adequate indicators to support monitoring of the good
status of aquifers.
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2. First day - 15 July 2013, Monday
Session 1
Chairperson: Mr. Igor Severskiy
Chairperson, Kazakh National Committee, UNESCO IHP,
Deputy Director, UNESCO Category 2 International Centre
on Glaciology; Head, Laboratory of Glaciology,
Kazakh Institute of Geography.
Welcome address
- Mr. Sergey Lazarev, Director, UNESCO Regional Office in Almaty
Mr Lazarev welcomed all the participants of the workshop on behalf of UNESCO. He emphasized the
importance that UNESCO Almaty office gives to water cooperation and resources management in
Central Asia region.
- Ms. Alice Aureli, PhD Hydrologist, UNESCO IHP; Chief, Groundwater Resources and Aquifer
Systems Section; Coordinator, International Initiative on Transboundary Aquifers Management
(ISARM) Programme, Division of Water Sciences, UNESCO HQs
Ms Aureli also welcomed the participants on behalf of UNESCO IHP; she appreciated the support in
the organization of the workshop provided by the UNESCO Almaty office, the Institute of Geography,
and the IHP national committee of Kazakhstan. She presented the agenda of the meeting and suggested
participants to propose any changes if they deem appropriate. She informed that the first day of the
workshop will be devoted to presentation of the main objectives of the project, followed by technical
presentations. The second day will be more interactive, and devoted to discussions and follow-up
actions.
- Mr M. K. Absalmetov, Director, Institute of Hydrogeology and Geoecology, Almaty, Kazakhstan
Mr Absalmetov emphasized the importance to continue conduct studies on surface and groundwater
resources in the region, especially taking into account the global environmental changes. He mentioned
that a national programme on water is being developed by experts, and that the programme was
presented to the President of the republic of Kazakhstan. He stressed the importance of the subject of
this meeting for all the region and thanked UNESCO for the organization of the workshop.
- Mr Igor Malkovskiy – Professor, Deputy Director, Institute of Geography, Kazakhstan
Mr Malkovskiy in his welcome speech mentioned that Kazakhstan is the poorest country in water
resources in Central Asia region. One of the priority areas of the Institute of Geography is devoted to
water resources investigations and management studies. The Institute has a long-lasting experience on
the topic. He mentioned also that surface and groundwater resources should be managed together, and
emphasized the role of the Glaciology Centre, recently created as a Category 2 Centre of UNESCO.
- Mr. Igor Severskiy, Deputy Director, UNESCO Category 2 International Centre
on Glaciology; Head, Laboratory of Glaciology, Institute of Geography
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3. Mr Severskiy welcomed the participants on behalf of the Kazakh National Committee of UNESCO
IHP. He thanked UNESCO for its cooperation in various domains, which was initiated in 90s and
continues to grow. This allowed him to participate in different UNESCO-led programmes and
activities. Mr Severskiy emphasized how important it is to continue cooperation with UNESCO,
because after the collapse of the Soviet Union, many joint activities between the countries of the
Central Asia region have stopped, and it is important to revitalize them today and to strengthen
cooperation. He expects and hopes that this project would be a successful one, aiming, in particular, at
strengthening the cooperation between involved countries. He mentioned also that the newly created
Regional Glaciological Centre has a potential for enhancing cooperation in the region with regard to
water resources. Mr Severskiy also pointed out that it is important to mainstream other topics in the
project activities that are important for UNESCO and the region, such as ecology and biodiversity.
 Overview of the UNESCO IHP Programme and purpose of the meeting
Ms. Alice Aureli, PhD Hydrologist, UNESCO IHP, Chief, Groundwater Resources and Aquifer
Systems Section, Coordinator, Transboundary Aquifer Management – ISARM Programme, Division
of Water Sciences, UNESCO HQs
The Intergovernmental Council of the UNESCO International Hydrological Programme at its 20th
Session (7-12 June 2012) requested UNESCO-IHP to continue the Study and Assessment of
Transboundary Aquifers and Groundwater Resources, and encouraged UNESCO Members States to
cooperate on the study of their transboundary aquifers, with the support of IHP (Resolution XX-3 on
International Initiative on Transboundary Aquifers Management IHP ISARM Programme. The full text
of the resolution is included in Annex 1).
In response to this request, UNESCO IHP had prepared a project proposal on “Groundwater Resources
Governance in Transboundary Aquifers” and submitted it to the Swiss Agency for Development and
Cooperation (SDC). The SDC has entrusted UNESCO IHP with a grant to conduct the project in three
selected case studies. The Pretashkent aquifer has been selected as case study because it is
representative of specific climate and geological condition. The Pretashkent aquifer is a geological
transboundary system located partially in the territory of Kazakhstan and partially in the territory of
Uzbekistan.
Ms Aureli, as responsible for the implementation of the IHP Council resolution XX-3, reminded that
this project is also a component of the global UNESCO Transboundary Aquifers Assessment Program
(ISARM). At the global level a methodology has already been developed based on indicators; and
specific case studies aim to achieve a better understanding of the importance and the vulnerability of
shared groundwater resources, reinforcing transboundary cooperation, and to provide examples for the
scientific community of good groundwater governance.
She mentioned that the aim of the Workshop is to evaluate with experts of Kazakhstan the activities
can be initiated for the project in the country so to improve groundwater resources management at
national and regional level and to start planning for the case study of Pretashkent aquifer, in
Kazakhstan during the period 2013-2015 (PowerPoint presentation in Annex 2).
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4.  Overview of the Global Transboundary Aquifer Assessment Activities (UNESCO ISARM
Programme and TWAP)
Mr. Neno Kukuric, Director, UNESCO International
Groundwater Resources Assessment Centre (IGRAC)
An overview of the global, regional and aquifers-based assessment and worldwide ISARM
(International Shared Aquifer Resources Management) Initiative, an UNESCO led multiagency effort
aimed at improving the understanding of hydrogeological, socio-economic, legal, institutional and
environmental issues related to the management of transboundary aquifers, was presented by
Mr Kukuric. ISARM operates as an umbrella programme, (co)organizing various transboundary
aquifers (TBA)-related activities around the world. UNESCO has elaborated several maps representing
the groundwater resources, the transboundary aquifers and the geology and main aquifer systems at
global level. The inventory of transboundary aquifers of the world was also conducted by UNESCO
from 2000 to 2009.
TBA Assessment Methodology includes the following: Hydrogeological aspect, Environmental issues,
Socio-economic framework, Institutional and Governance settings.
He gave a presentation on the Transboundary Waters Assessment Programme’s (TWAP) objectives
and outcomes; he presented the conceptual framework of TWAP’s overall assessment (TBAs
Methodology, Partnership and Execution Arrangements) .(PowerPoint presentation in Annex 3).
 Pretashkent Transboundary Aquifer
Mr. Oleg Podolny, Chief, Department of Geoecology
and Mathematical Modeling, Hydrogeological Research
and Design Company, Almaty, Kazakhstan
Mr. Podolny presented an overview of water resources (rivers and aquifers) of Kazakhstan and of the
challenges related to the sustainable management of aquifers. He also presented an overview of the
Pretashkent transboundary aquifer, including schematic hydrogeological map and hydrogeological
cross-section of the aquifer, and resumed the main transboundary hydrogeological and institutional
challenges.
Mr. Podolny underlined the importance of cooperation, in the framework of the present project.
(PowerPoint presentation in Russian in Annex 4).
 Pretashkent Aquifer
Mr. Murat Mukhametdzhanov, Head, Laboratory of Regional
Hydrogeology and Geoecology, Hydrogeology and
Geoecology Institute, National Scientific
Technological Holding “Prasat”, Almaty
Mr. Mukhametdzhanov thanked UNESCO for the organization of the workshop and noted that UN and
UNESCO play an important role in solution of water resources problems.
Kazakhstan was one of the first countries in the Central Asian Region that started to pay attention to
rational use of water resources and was the first in the region to ratify the UNECE Convention on the
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5. Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes (UNECE Water
Convention, Helsinki, 1992).
In 2008, the Institute of Hydrogeology and Geoecology prepared a program of cooperation on
transboundary waters with the Institute of Water Problems the Eurasian Bank was ready to support
financially the cooperation (US$. 1.5mils). Unfortunately, due to global financial crisis the program
was not realized.
The south regions of Kazakhstan have serious water supply problems: arid climate, high density of
population and deficit of water resources. Therefore selection of Pretashkent Hydrogeological Basin,
particularly Pretashkent transboundary aquifer as a case study is important. In accordance with
classification of Kazakh scientists the Pretashkent aquifer is a part of Sariagash basin of artesian waters
(Sariagash is a name of health-resort area in the region with sources of medical treatment waters). Mr.
Mukhametdzhanov noted that there is no very detailed data about the ecological situation in the area.
Several wells were drilled in the Kazakhstan portion of the Pretashkent aquifer system. However,
detailed information is not available at present.
 The UNECE Water Convention and its application to groundwaters
Mr. Batyr Hajiyev, Economic Affairs Officer,
Deputy Head, ESCAP/UNECE SPECA Office, Almaty
Mr. Hajiyev described in general The UNECE Water Convention known also as the Helsinki
Convention that signed in 1992 was amended in 2003, to allow accession to countries beyond the
UNECE region. He mentioned some of items of the Convention (main obligation under the
Convention, applicability to groundwater, activities related to groundwater) and presented the nine
Model Provisions on transboundary groundwater adopted by the Meeting of the Parties of the
Convention in 2012 as follows:
Provision 1
- obligation to take all appropriate measures to prevent, control and reduce any transboundary
impact;
- obligation to use transboundary groundwaters in an equitable and reasonable manner, taking
into account all relevant factors.
Provision 2
obligation to use transboundary groundwaters in a sustainable manner.
Provision 3
- obligation of cooperation in the common identification, delineation and characterization of their
transboundary groundwaters;
- programmes for the joint monitoring and assessment of quantity and quality of transboundary
groundwaters.
Provision 4
integrated management of transboundary groundwaters and surface waters.
Provision 5
prevention, control and reduction of the pollution of transboundary groundwater
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6. Provision 6
exchange of information and available data on transboundary groundwaters.
Provision 7
- joint or coordinated plans for the proper management of their transboundary
groundwaters.
Provision 8
- environmental impact assessment;
- notification of the other Party and conclusion;
- access to information, public participation and access to the conditions of transboundary
groundwaters.
Provision 9
In order to implement the objectives and principles of the Provisions and coordinate their
cooperation, the Parties shall establish a joint body.
Mr. Hajiyev informed that 35 transboundary aquifers were inventoried in Central Asia and also stressed
the importance of the following items: i) development of bilateral and multilateral cooperation; ii)
organization of joint assessment and joint monitoring; iii) encouragement of the creation of joint bodies
to work on transboundary groundwater etc. (see also PowerPoint presentation in Annex 5)
 Current status of the groundwater resources in the irrigated zone of Central Asia
Mr. Akmal Karimov, International Water Management Institute (IWMI), Regional Office located in
Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Mr. Karimov presented data on groundwater in Central Asia collected by IWMI, and particularly for
Fergana Valley and Syr Darya River, and on groundwater use in the Aral Sea basin (Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan), the region groundwater balance for Fergana Valley, as well
as information on groundwater recovery technologies irrigation in Fergana valley, modeling of
groundwater of the Sokh aquifer and others.
Mr. Karimov presented also data on hydrogeology conditions of the Northern Tajikistan, including
water use in Samgar lift irrigation zone, groundwater extraction in the Sogd province of Tajikistan and
groundwater data for the Makhtaral irrigation project in Kazakhstan as well as data for Pretashkent
aquifer.
His conclusions are as follows:
- a better assessement and evaluation of groundwater resources and aquifers in the region is needed
groundwater in the irrigated zone of Central Asia is highly connected with surface flow and
irrigation;
- irrigation water losses form significant amount of groundwater recharge;
- groundwater use for agriculture will increase productivity and will bring other socio-economic
benefits (see also PowerPoint presentation in Annex 6).
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7. Second day, 16 July
Session 2
Chairperson: Ms. Alice Aureli
PhD Hydrologist, UNESCO IHP, Chief, Groundwater Resources
and Aquifer Systems Section, Coordinator, Transboundary Aquifer Management –
ISARM Programme, Division of Water Sciences, UNESCO HQs
 Water Resources: a cooperation challenge: The EU Directive
Mr. Jovan Despotovic, Vice-Chairperson of the UNESCO’s IHP Intergovernmental Council for
Group II – Eastern and Central Europe,
Vice-Chair (for region 2 Eastern and Central Europe Group) at the Bureau of the Intergovernmental
Council of the UNESCO IHP,
President of the IHP National Committee for Serbia,
Professor, Belgrade University, Faculty of Civil Engineering
Mr. Despotovic participated at the Workshop in his capacity of UNESCO IHP Bureau Member
responsible for Eastern and Central Europe Group . He presented an overview of the EU Directives in
groundwater. He gave an example of the cooperation established in the Danube River – a basin shared
by 15 countries. Mr. Despotovic mentioned that a committee was established for it, and this can be
replicated for the Pretashkent aquifer. He stressed the importance of cooperation on water resources,
and also highlighted the importance of supporting education and training.
He also presented the list of countries included in IHP UNESCO Group II: Caucasus and Central Asia
– Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, and Russian Federation;
South, Central and Eastern Europe – Romania, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Albania, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia
and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Slovenia, Hungary, Slovak Republic, and Check Republic.
Mr. Despotovic confirmed the importance of the study of the Pretashkent Aquifer as a case study and
assured to provide his support to the project and to Kazakh experts.
 Mr. V. Samek
Representative, United Nations,
Department of Public Information,
Office in the Republic of Kazakhstan
(UNDPI)
Mr V. Samek informed the participants that Mr Jenča, Special Representative of the Secretary-General
and Head of the United Nations Regional Center for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia
(UNRCCA) participated in the UN Security Council meeting at UN HQ on 15 July 2013. (Annex 8:
summary of the UN Security Council decision). He reported that the Security Council members
welcomed initiatives by UNRCCA to assist the Central Asia countries in finding a comprehensive
solution to the management of transboundary water resources, and took note of ongoing discussions,
facilitated by the Centre, on a regional legal framework for this purpose. He stated that without a doubt,
this information adds an importance to the topic and discussions of this workshop.
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8.  Building the UNESCO Pretashkent aquifer Case study
Ms. Alice Aureli
Ms. Aureli presented the Pretashkent case study objectives.
Objectives at national level:
- countries improve their knowledge on national groundwater resources and on their transboundary
aquifers and
- build an example on management the groundwater resource, how to enhance national
water security and to improve overall environmental sustainability,
Objectives of the project at regional level:
- enhance regional cooperation;
- support countries to cooperate and implement priority actions for the protection and management
of the aquifer.
The expected case study outputs includes: information management programme, proposal and
recommendation for harmonized monitoring, and the set-up of a multi-country consultative opportunity
through organization of regional seminars.
Ms. Aureli also informed that Global Environment Facility (GEF) on 01.03.13 approved the Regional
Project entitled “Enabling countries of the transboundary Syr Darya Basin to make sustainable use of
their groundwater potential and subsurface space with consideration to climate variability and
change” that will be implemented. Beneficiary countries are: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.
UNESCO IHP is the Executing Agency; UNDP-GEF allocation to the project is US$ 3.5mil for
5 years.
The Project objective is to create the regional and national enabling environment for climate resilient,
sustainable, and conjunctive use of surface and groundwater resources in the Syr Darya Basin. It is
foreseen that this project will be synchronized well with the case study of the Pretashkent aquifer case
study. At present UNESCO IHP is preparing the first step of the project document (see also PowerPoint
presentation in Annex 2).
 Pretashkent aquifer case study: Assessment and Information Management System
Mr. Neno Kukuric
Mr. Kukuric in his presentation proposed the following activities to be included into the case study:
collection of existing data, and data harmonization and transboundary aquifer assessment, definition of
a proposal for harmonized monitoring.
He emphasized that the data collection and processing has to include: hydrological, environmental,
socio-economic and legal/institutional aspects, characterization and assessment of the aquifer
dynamics, as well as recharge/discharge mechanisms, pollution hotspots and vulnerability. Preparation
of cross-sections and thematic maps is also important.
Mr. Kukuric informed that UNESCO IHP and UNESCO Centre IGRAC have identified 20 indicators
to be studied and included in the Case study.
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9. He also informed the participants about IGRAC Groundwater Information Management System and on
the possibility of the establishment of a data base for the case study (see also PowerPoint presentation
in Annex 7).
 Building the Pretashkent aquifer case study: Debates
All experts participated in the debates. The main comments of participants are given below:
- Mr. Mukhametdzhanov: Intensive pasture of livestock on the territory of the Pretashkent aquifer is
having an impact on the ecosystem. This has to be analyzed in the case study. Ecosystem approach
should be included in the case study. The link between surface and groundwater is also important.
He emphasized that the data from the Geological Committee has to be acquired first of all. He
mentioned that some data from the archives may also be needed in order to assess the geochemical
and quality of water.
- Mr. Podolny: Mr Podolny said that objectives of the project are very clear, and also stated that once
materials are acquired, the harmonization is needed in cooperation with expert from Uzbekistan. He
also mentioned that the UNESCO funds available for the case study are limited, so actions should be
clearly prioritized. The selection and planning of research activities for the case study has to be
carefully undertaken.
- Mr. Kasimbekov (Deputy Director, Hydrogeology and Geoecology Institute): Stressed that the
Hydrogeology and Geoecology Institute has a number of high level experts on groundwater and
therefore the institute is delighted to contribute to this project. He also noted that the participation of
private sector in the project is necessary. The thorough chemical analysis of the water quality of the
aquifer should be taken in to consideration.
- Mr. Karimov suggested considering how to achieve “joint water use” as one of the final output of
the project. IWMI is ready to participate in the project on regional basis. . He proposed that
UNESCO should nominate a national team coordinator.
- Mr. Uvarov (Institute of Geography): Very important element of the project is to establish close
cooperation between experts of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. The UNESCO project is a good
opportunity to strengthen this cooperation.
- Mr Kukuric said that a clear definition of the tasks and a schedule should be adopted as soon as
possible by the end of the year 2013 to be able to start the activities in the field ..
- Mr. Severskiy proposed meetings of UNESCO IHP with the Minister of Ecology and Water
Resources and the Chairman of State Committee of Geology and Sub Soil Use, and suggested an
additional internal meeting of Kazakh experts to prepare a work plan for the project before end of
2013. He stressed out that the methodology of the activities will crystalize during the process of the
work; the priority is to prepare a well-established action plan.
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10.  Conclusive remarks of the Workshop
-
Ms Aureli thanked the participants present at the workshop for their great and enthusiastic support
to this UNESCO scientific study. She summarized from several interventions that there is enough
material available. She highlighted that she understood that the involvement of the Geological
Committee is essential, since most of the data belong to them, and that it is needed to have the
permission of the Geological Committee to use their existing data. She thanked the participants for
the discussions and their contribution, in particular Mr Severskiy and his team. Ms Aureli stressed
that the most important is the harmonization of the collected data and prioritization of actions
taken. The next national experts meeting should be organized by October and a regional one in
2014 probably in Paris. She also acknowledged the good cooperation with the IHP National
Committee. She stated that a coordination will be set up in particular with UNECE, the United
Nations Department of Public Information (DPI), the International Water Management Institute
(IWMI), the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and Pacific (ESCAP) and the United
Nations Regional Center for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA).
-
Mr Severskiy stressed the importance of the regional cooperation, highlighting particularly the IHP
coordination, since the cooperation at the regional level ceased after the countries became
independent in 90s. Therefore he appreciated the work of UNESCO in enhancing the cooperation
among Central Asian countries, and believed that this project, as well as the Syr Darya project, will
facilitate it.
-
Special thanks from everyone goes to Mr Moustafaev (UNESCO consultant), who took an active
role in organizational process of this meeting.
 Recommendations, Conclusions and Follow-up actions
-
Preparation of an action plan for the duration of the Project July 2013 - end of 2015.
-
The participation of several UN organizations and programmes as well as international and
regional institutions at the workshop was highly appreciated. All participants agreed that
participation of State Committee on Geology and Subsoil of the Ministry of New Technologies
is essential for the success of the project. State Committee on Geology and Subsoil being
responsible for monitoring of all aquifers on the territory of Kazakhstan can help the project
with its archive data on aquifers including the Pretashkent aquifer.
-
It was suggested that UNESCO officers from Paris and Almaty Office will undertake a mission
to Astana to coordinate the project with the Ministry of Environment, State Committee of
Geology and Subsoil Use of the Ministry of New Technologies, and the National Commission
of Kazakhstan for UNESCO.
-
It was decided to set up a national team of experts which would include the main national
institutions present at the workshop who committed to work in the project. Particular support
will be provided by institutions with a clear mandate, such as the Institutes of Geography,
Hydrogeology and Geoecology and including the outstanding experts who participated in the
workshop and committed to cooperate, such as Mr. Podolny.
-
It was agreed that in order to facilitate the maintaining of contacts and to coordinate directly to
UNESCO Almaty office and UNESCO IHP Secretariat in Paris, the Focal Point for the
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11. coordination of the project and the case study will be the IHP National Committee of
Kazakhstan.
-
It was agreed to organize a team experts meeting to decide detailed work plan, schedule data
collection and assign tasks to national experts and institutions for the successful implementation
of the project.
Rapporteurs of the Workshop:
Ms. K. Tovmasyan, Programme Specialist, UNESCO
Mr. V. Moustafaev, Consultant, UNESCO
-------------------------------
ANNEXES
Annex 1. Text of the Resolution XX-3 on International Initiative on Transboundary Aquifers
Management, IHP ISARM Programme.
Annex 2. A. Aureli, Groundwater Resources Assessment and Governance: case study the Pretashkent
aquifer (presentation, in English)
Annex 3. N. Kukuric, Overview of the Global Transboundary Aquifer Assessment Activities
(UNESCO ISARM Programme and TWAP)
Annex 4. O. Podolny, Pretashkent Transboundary Aquifer (presentation, in Russian)
Annex 5. B. Hajiyev, The UNECE Water Convention and its application to groundwaters
(presentation, in English)
Annex 6. A. Karimov, Current status of the groundwater resources in the irrigated zone of Central Asia
(presentation, in English)
Annex 7. N. Kukuric, Assessment Methodology and Information Management Systems (presentation,
in English)
Annex 8. Summary of the UN Security Council Decision (meeting at UN HQ, 15 July 2013).
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12. List of participants
1. Mr Sergey Lazarev – Director, UNESCO Almaty office (S. Lazarev@unesco.org)
2. Ms Alice Aureli – International Hydrological Programme (IHP), Chief of Groundwater
Resources Aquifer Systems Section, Division of Water Sciences, UNESCO Paris
(a.aureli@unesco.org)
3. Mr Jovan Despotovic – Professor, IHP Bureau member and coordinator for IHP Eastern,
Central and South Europe and Central Asia regions (jdespotovic@grf.bg.ac)
4. Mr Igor Severskiy – Coordinating staff scientist, Department of Glaciology, Institute
of Geography, Almaty, Kazakhstan (iseverskiy@gmail.com)
5. Mr Neno Kukuric – Director, UNESCO International Groundwater Resources Assessment
Centre (IGRAC), the Netherlands (neno.kukuric@un-igrac.org)
6. Mr Akmal Karimov – IWMI, Tashkent, Uzbekistan (a.karimov@cgiar)
7. Ms Kristine Tovmasyan – Programme Specialist, Natural Sciences Sector, UNESCO Paris
(k.tovmasyan@unesco.org)
8. Mr Vefa Moustafaev – Consultant, International Hydrological Pogramme (IHP), Division of
Water Sciences, UNESCO Paris (v.moustafaev@unesco.org)
9. Mr M. K. Absalmetov – Director, Institute of Hydrogeology and Geoecology, Almaty,
Kazakhstan (aida-bazarbaeva@mail.ru)
10. Mr M.A. Mukhamedzhanov – Vice-director, Institute of Hydrogeology and Geoecology,
Almaty, Kazakhstan (muratmukhamtd09@rambler.ru)
11. Mr Daut Kasymbekov – vice director, Hydrogeology and Geoecology Institute, Kazakhstan
(dkassymbekov@mail.ru)
12. Mr Oleg Podolny – Co KazHYDEC, Almaty, Kazakhstan (podolnyo@mail.ru)
13. Mr Makysh Zhihanshy Sepenuly – Main expert, Governance of regulation of use and protection
of water resources, State Committee of Water Resources, Ministry of Environmental Protection
Kazakhstan (zhtm1@rambler.ru ) makysh.zh@eco.gov.kz)
14. Mr V. P. Blagovechshenskij – Head, Department of Natural Hazards, Institute of Geography,
Almaty, Kazakhstan (victor.blagov@mail.ru)
15. Mr Igr Malkovskiy – professor, deputy director, Ministry of Education and Sciences of
Republic of Kazakhstan (ingeo@mail.kz, ingeo_2009@mail.kz)
16. Mr Rustam Issakhojayev – team assistant, ESCAP Subregional office for North and Central
Asia, Kazakhstan
17. 17 Mr Batyr Hajiyev – economic affairs officer, deputy head ESCAP/UNECE SPECA Office in
Almaty, Kazakhstan (batyr.hajiyev@unece.org)
18. Mr Vlastimil Samek – The United Nations Department of Public Information (DPI)
representative (kazakhstan@unic.org)
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13. Annex 1.
Intergovernmental Council
UNESCO International Hydrological Programme 20th Session (7-12 June 2012)
Resolution XX-3
INTERNATIONAL INITIATIVE ON
TRANSBOUNDARY AQUIFERS MANAGEMENT (IHP-ISARM Project)
The Intergovernmental Council of the International Hydrological Programme of UNESCO,
Recalling
Resolution XIV-12 adopted at the 14th session of the IHP Council, Paris,
5-10 June 2000, and Resolution XIX-9 adopted at the 19th session of the
IHP Council, Paris, 5-9 July 2010, which are the basis of the IHP
International Initiative on Internationally Shared Aquifers Management
(ISARM);
Also recalling
the UN General Assembly Resolution A/RES/63/124, (11 December 2008),
which appreciated the valuable scientific assistance on the topic of the
management of transboundary aquifers rendered by IHP to the United
Nations International Law Commission;
Noting
the UN General Assembly Resolution A/RES/66/104 (9 December 2011),
which encourages IHP to offer further scientific and technical assistance to
Member States;
Recognizing
the important contribution provided by IHP in conducting the world wide
inventory of transboundary aquifers of the world and in improving the
scientific knowledge in support of their management;
Encourages
Member States to cooperate on the study of their transboundary aquifers;
Requests
the IHP Secretariat to:
- support Member States in promoting studies in regard to transboundary
aquifers in the framework of the existing IHP ISARM initiative; and
- continue studies on transboundary aquifers and assist interested Member
States in their studies of transboundary aquifers resources management
including by promoting capacity building and awareness raising activities
on existing instruments and discussions.
*****************
Annex 2 to 7: Presentations (separate folder)
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14. Annex 8.
Central Asia: Security Council lauds UN regional centre's preventive diplomacy efforts
The 15th July the UN Security Council reaffirmed the importance of the use of preventive diplomacy
and early warning mechanisms to assist in the peaceful settlement of disputes, and acknowledged the
role of the United Nations regional office in assisting countries in Central Asia to respond to threats
and challenges.
The UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA) was established in
2007 in Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan. It assists and supports the Governments of Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan in finding solutions for emerging problems and
eliminating potential threats.
“The members of the Security Council reaffirmed their support for the efforts of UNRCCA to facilitate
dialogue among the Governments of the Central Asian States on regional issues of common concern,”
Ambassador Rosemary A. DiCarlo of the United States, which holds the Council's rotating presidency
for July, said in a statement read out to the press.
The statement followed a closed-door briefing by the Secretary-General's Special Representative and
head of UNRCCA, Miroslav Jenča, on the work of the Centre over the past six months.
“The members of the Security Council reaffirmed the importance of the use of preventive diplomacy
and early warning mechanisms by the United Nations to assist in the peaceful settlement of disputes
and in this context acknowledged the role of UNRCCA in assisting Central Asian countries, in
accordance with its mandate and through regional cooperation, to respond to domestic and transnational threats to peace and in supporting the sustainable development of the region,” the statement
said.
Council members also stressed the need for further cooperation and coordination between the Central
Asian States, UNRCCA, and regional organizations to strengthen the region's capacity to overcome
challenges to peace, stability and sustainable development in Central Asia through the mechanisms of
preventive diplomacy and dialogue.
In this regard, they welcomed initiatives by UNRCCA to assist the countries in finding a
comprehensive solution to the management of trans-boundary water resources, and took note of
ongoing discussions, facilitated by the Centre, on a regional legal framework for this purpose.
UNRCCA's efforts to support cooperation
UN News Centre • www.un.org/news
UN Regional Centre for Preventive
Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA)
in Turkmenistan’s capital of Ashgabat.
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