Dushanbe, Tajikistan
Good morning. As I begin, I want to congratulate the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea for their vital work and steadfast commitment to the environmental restoration in the region. Not only does your work produce important solutions for improving the livelihoods for Central Asians, your collaboration across national borders provides an important example of the vital role of cooperation in addressing water challenges and climate change, among other pressing issues.
For more than 30 years, USAID has partnered with Central Asian countries to build a stronger economy, improve cooperative governance, and enhance the quality of water, so that people in this region can have better lives.
The United States remains steadfast in our commitment to supporting water security and mitigating climate change, and USAID’s Water and Vulnerable Environment and Environmental Restoration of the Aral Sea projects are both examples of our ongoing cooperation with the five Central Asian countries to deliver regional solutions to global challenges through the C5+1 diplomatic platform.
While the Aral Sea provides a stark reminder of the water challenges we face in Central Asia, our presence here also reminds us that water cooperation can be a catalyst for change – that we can take small ideas and, by working together, build them into major improvements with far-reaching benefits for communities and the environment.
USAID works together with the IFAS to promote transboundary water cooperation which is an essential component in ensuring peace, stability, and prosperity in the region.
Together USAID and IFAS organized expeditions for young government employees along the Syr Darya and Amu Darya rivers to support networking and form a common understanding of the water and environmental challenges in the region. USAID provided support for 12 delegates to attend the high-level U.N. Water Conference in March, hosted by the President of Tajikistan. All these efforts help to promote regional cooperation by identifying the shared challenges and mutual benefits for all countries.
In addition, we are cooperating with the IFAS in Kazakhstan, testing innovative approaches for growing black saxaul at the Aral Sea as a first step toward restoring that vital ecosystem. This past year, we expanded our work in environmental restoration of the Aral Sea to Uzbekistan.
Just two weeks ago, IFAS led a group of delegates from the United States, Japan, Germany, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan into the Aral Sea zone to facilitate learning and information sharing. This trip culminated in a truly successful international conference to support international cooperation and collaboration for Aral Sea donor projects.
Like those of you gathered here today, USAID will continue to focus its resources on water security and climate change mitigation by supporting national governments, regional organizations, and local, on-the-ground partners.
I am confident our strong cooperation in Central Asia will continue to grow and deepen to create a peaceful and prosperous future with sustainable water systems bringing a healthier world for future generations of Kazakhs, Kyrgyzs, Tajiks, Turkmens and Uzbeks. All nationalities connected by and united in a quest for a secure water future.
Thank you. Spasibo.