Riyadh (UNA-OIC) – The Ambassador of the Republic of Tajikistan to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Akram Karimi, affirmed that Tajikistan has been leading for two decades the international issues related to water within the framework of the United Nations, praising the support provided by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to his country in activating its international initiatives, especially those related to water resources and rationalizing their management.
The statement came during a press conference held in the office of the United Nations Resident Coordinator in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, last Sunday on the preparations for the upcoming UN-Water conference to be held in New York from 22-24 March 2023 under the co-chairmanship of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Karimi revealed that the United Nations General Assembly adopted nine resolutions on water issues based on Tajikistan’s international initiatives, for example: declaring 2003 as the “International Year of Fresh Water”, the “International Decade of Action” Water for Life 2005-2015, declaring the year 2013 as the International Year of Water Cooperation, the International Decade of Action “Water for Sustainable Development” for the period 2018-2028, and declaring the year 2025 as the International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation.
Ambassador Karimi praised the diligent and systematic role played by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in achieving the goals of sustainable development at the national, regional and international levels, including the sixth goal, which aims to ensure the availability of water and sanitation services for all.
“We all know that sustainability has been the cornerstone for Saudi Vision 2030 since its inception,” he added.
The Tajik ambassador said that his country would continue joint and integrated efforts in resolving water and climate issues within the framework of the United Nations, including through the implementation of the International Year for the Glaciers’ Preservation which was declared at the initiative of Tajikistan last December by the UN General Assembly.
He added that Tajikistan, whose territory accounts for 60% of the water resources of the Central Asian region, will strengthen, within the framework of the country’s presidency of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS), its efforts to further expand cooperation in Central Asia in the field of water.
“At the national level, we are focusing our efforts on the full implementation of water sector reforms in the country by 2025 and the full implementation of integrated water resources management,” the Tajik diplomat said, indicating that his country is preparing its national strategy in the field of water in accordance with current requirements and standards.
Karimi said that Tajikistan and the Kingdom of the Netherlands had strengthened their partnership with the United Nations in preparing for the UN Water Conference 2023 for the comprehensive mid-term review of the objectives of the International Decade for Action: “Water for Sustainable Development 2018-2028”.
“The parties’ attention was devoted to adopting commitments and practical measures to achieve water-related development goals,” he added.
He pointed out that the partnership between Tajikistan and the Netherlands in organizing and chairing the United Nations conference highlights the importance and effectiveness of cooperation and solidarity between countries with different geographical, economic, cultural and linguistic backgrounds to achieve sustainable development goals, including goals related to water and the rationalization of its management.
