Monday, 23 November 2009The OSCE Centre in Astana formally commenced cooperation with the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS) Executive Directorate in the Republic of Kazakhstan by signing a Memorandum of Understanding on 20 November.
The Directorate is a national branch of IFAS and works to implement Aral Sea basin projects in Kazakhstan. IFAS is an international organization, which promotes sustainable development and water security in the Aral Sea region and includes the five Central Asian republics. Environment and security, including water management, are important aspects of the OSCE's work to help promote security and stability.
Signing the Memorandum, Ambassador Alexandre Keltchewsky, the Head of the OSCE Centre in Astana, said: "The cooperation with the IFAS Executive Directorate in Kazakhstan will provide a strong basis for our joint work on environment and security matters, given their significance for stability in the OSCE area."
Medet Ospanov, Director of the IFAS Executive Directorate in the Republic of Kazakhstan added, "This Memorandum is opening the way to joint cooperation in the area of integrated water resources management, environmental recovery in the basin and preparation for the Aral Sea Basin Programme."
Under the Memorandum, both parties agreed to take targeted measures to strengthen and expand the potential of the IFAS Executive Directorate in Kazakhstan in implementing the Third Aral Sea Basin Programme for 2011-2015, which is meant to improve social and economic conditions of the Aral Sea states. |
Monday, 23 November 2009
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