Политология / 10. Региональные
политические процессы.
Aukhadieva Shamshinur Dalelovna Ph.D.
Kazakh Ablay Khan university of international relations and world
languages
Almaty, Kazakhstan.
Zhanibekova L.M.,
Kazakh Ablay Khan university of international relations and world
languages
3rd course student,
Department of International Relations
The emerging problems of Transboundary Rivers between
the states of Central Asia
In 1990 the collapse of the Soviet Union brought massive changes in the
world. In the world a new rebuilding began. Independent states began to create
its geopolitical system and the new tendency in the economy. The Central Asian
region among these countries attracted the attention of the whole world. All
these states have one interconnected story. They belong to the same family of
Turkic peoples, they have similar religion and culture: the Republic of
Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Republic Turkmenistan, Kyrgyz Republic, Republic of
Tajikistan. Before these states there was huge work. Every country began to
plan its own way of development. After escaping from the hegemony of the USSR,
Central Asian countries have developed its own mechanism of development and chosen
the way of reconstruction, but there were unsolved different problems in
regions.
Central Asia is rich with natural resources, the population is about 55
million. In the region over the past years there have been such problems as
ethnic conflicts, the clash at the State borders, leadership rejection, illegal
migration, separatism, extremism, terrorism, the unresolved issue of
Afghanistan, the geopolitical interests of external actors, drug trafficking
and the problem of transboundary rivers. Among these problems, I would like to
dwell on the problems of Transboundary Rivers of Central Asia.
Water - the source of life and the most necessary resource for all living
things. The balance of social and economic life in the region depends on this
resource. Below there are the major transboundary rivers in Central Asia:
- the Aral Sea;
- Darya and Amu Darya River;
- River Ile;
- River TARIM;
- The Irtysh River;
- River Tobol, Ural, Ishim;
- Kaspi sea;
- River Talas and Chu. The geographical location
of Central Asia is far from the world's oceans. The region shortage of fresh
water has been and remains the most urgent topic. [1]
Shortage of fresh water in the world is gaining a lot of weight and become
a topic of conflict. This is clear. Water as the air is the most expensive
resource and will be the center for conflict. Because in today's world, there
are only 3% is fresh water. I would emphasize the adopted existing
international agreements of utilizing transboundary rivers:
- "How to use the waters of international importance", adopted in
1966 in Helsinki, the International Law Association;
- Convention on Environmental impact assessment
in a transboundary context 1991 Convention on the Protection and Use of
Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes in 1992;
- The legal regime established by the Helsinki
Convention, was further developed as a result of the approval of two additional
protocols: the London Protocol on Water and Health in 1999 and the Kiev
Protocol on Civil Liability and Compensation for Damage Caused by the
Transboundary Effects of Industrial Accidents on Transboundary Waters 2003 of
the year;
- In addition to these, there are two
environmental UNECE documents that
be taken into account when dealing with issues related to the protection of
transboundary watercourses: Convention adopted in Helsinki on the Transboundary
Effects of Industrial Accidents of 1992 and the Convention on Access to
Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in
Environmental Matters - Aarhus 1998;
- UN Convention on the Non-Navigational Uses of
International Watercourses in 1997 based on the 1966 Helsinki Rules [2].
Over the past 50 years, conflicts over the use of transboundary waters were
settled through 1800 agreements. According to the history, transboundary
watercourses became as catalysts of cooperation between the basins located in
their states.
European countries have extensive experience in the use of transboundary
rivers, but the problem in the world is still unsolved. Creating a unified
system for solving the problems of transboundary rivers is a major challenge
for the future of mankind. To this end, neighbors, the countries of Central
Asia - Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kirgizstan, Tajikistan Turkmenstan and began to
look for the concept of the use of transboundary rivers. Proofs of this are the
documents:
- 1974-1982's water shortage in Central Asia had a dramatic increase. The
most catastrophic problem is the Aral Sea. The region has created two basins
water organizations "Amudarya" and "Syrdarya". The task of
the management of transboundary water basins. From the date of the creation of
this project, the problems started. Irrational use of water in agriculture lack
of control over the quality of water has led to drought Aral Sea;
- Among the countries of Central Asia Kazakhstan
is the only signed the Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary
Watercourses and International Lakes in 1992;
- 1991 October 10 ministers of the five countries to accept the agreement
"interstate use of water resources", 18 February 1992 began its work.
Thanks to this document created "Interstate Commission for the control of
water resources in Central Asia;
1993:
- January 4 ministers of these countries in
Tashkent signed an agreement on the establishment of the "International
Fund for Saving the Aral Sea";
- signed the Collective Security Treaty - the
Republic of Armenia, Belarus,
The Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Russian Federation,
the Republic of
Tajikistan and Uzbekistan;
- "Agreement on joint action to address the problem of the Aral Sea
and the Aral Sea region, ecological improvement and maintenance of social and
economic development of the Aral region";
- The agreement on the establishment of the Central Asia Regional Union of
the states of Central Asia and Kazakhstan;
- The European Commission approved the TRACECA project.
1994:
- Establishment of a Central Asian Economic Community.
1995:
- Nukus and Issyk-Kul Declaration. Creating ICSD.
1996:
- Creation of the "Shanghai Five";
- Tashkent Declaration of the UN Special Programme for the Economies of
Central Asia - SPECA.
1997:
- Agreement on cooperation in the field of ecology and management of nature.
Almaty Declaration. [3]
Before the Central Asian states began the task of searching for Integrated
management, taking into account the complex economic, social and environmental
factors. This is due, primarily, the regional nature of shared ecosystems, the
need for joint efforts to address the cross-border and cross-sectorial issues.
To solve the problems of the water sector in the country is actively involved
assistance from international financial institutions: the World Bank, the Asian
and Islamic Development Bank, UNDP, the United States Agency for International
Development, integration programs and other European countries. Assistance and
support in solving water problems the country to provide such countries as the
United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, France, Austria, Kuwait.
Within the framework of the above documents the Republic of
Kazakhstan performs a lot of work to improve the quality of life and the
preservation of natural ecosystems:
- October 22, 2001 between Kazakhstan and the United States signed a loan
agreement for the project number 4609 "Syr Darya Control and Northern Aral
Sea;
- February 2001 Project "Water of the Aral Sea"; Kuwait Fund for
Arab Economic Development provided a loan to Kazakhstan;
- March 1, 2000 Draft "Water Kazalinsk / Novokazalinsk." Loan
Agreement between the Republic of Kazakhstan and the German bank in Germany
- November 1, 1999 between the Republic of Kazakhstan and the World Bank
project "Rehabilitation and environmental management basins
Nura-Ishim";
- The project "Water supply and sanitation northeastern
Kazakhstan." Statement 14 November 2000 between the Republic of Kazakhstan
and the World Bank.
List of projects and programs financed by international organizations and
donors, is not limited to the listed projects. Thus, the most recent are the
following:
- In South Kazakhstan region is a project to promote community initiatives
program (CAIP), which is funded by the US Agency for International Development
(USAID). With the implementation of this program, two village Otrar District
area, Aris and Shoymanov will now use clean drinking water. Until recently, the
inhabitants of these settlements with a total population of about 4 million
people drank water from irrigation canals. In the next 4 years USAID will
implement another 96 projects in 16 villages of southern Kazakhstan.
- The United Nations as well as others are interested in helping the countries of Central Asia.
Kazakhstan has an active foreign policy in addressing transboundary rivers,
but its neighbors not like that. Lack of regional sustainable development lead
conflicts and destruction of the balance of the environment. The main countries
of water scarcity are considered Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. Kyrgyzstan
and Tajikistan on geographic features are located in mountainous areas, and
water shortages there yet impossible. [4] The foreign policy of the two
countries is variable. Mismanagement of politicians during the Soviet Union and
the lack of a unified system of integration in the region on transboundary
rivers has led to many consequences, such as:
- Inefficient use of muddy and the Syr Darya, the Irtysh and Ili;
- On the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Russian Federation
take place such major rivers as Ural, Tobol, Ishim and Irtysh. The main threat
of disruption of the ecological balance data is the pollution of water bodies
with harmful and toxic substances, carried out by industrial enterprises and
agriculture;
- The territory of Kazakhstan from China 23 transboundary rivers flow.
Currently, the main problem point of bilateral Kazakh-Chinese relations in
terms of shared water resources is the question of increasing the intake of
trans-boundary rivers Ili and Irtysh in China. This may entail a number of
negative consequences for Kazakhstan both socio-economic and environmental
conditions;
- At the Lake Balkhash and Zaisan REPUBLIC OF Kazakhstan have seen a
dramatic change in ecological balance;
- The main waterway between Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan are the Talas River
and Shu. The most important environmental problems of these rivers is by far
the contamination of surface water, low water level in the river deltas, rivers
use for agricultural activities and climatic conditions of the region;
- Pressing environmental issue of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the
Republic of Uzbekistan is to increase the intake of Syrdarya river from
Uzbekistan and the process of its pollution;
- As of today, one of the biggest environmental problems in Kazakhstan and
Central Asia is the problem of the Aral Sea. Preceded the appearance of the
Aral problem regulation of rivers flowing into the Aral Sea, in order to
address two major problems in economic scale. The first task was to create a
significant hydropower capacity. The second - a sharp increase in the area of
irrigated land in the Central Asian states;
- Currently in Kaspiiskom sea formed a number of complex, interrelated
environmental issues, there has been a steady trend of reduction of land and
pasture, removal of pollutants from runoff, discharge of untreated municipal,
industrial and agricultural water from the coast, exploitation of oil and gas
wells, shipping and transportation of oil by water;
- Lake Balkhash is the third largest in Kazakhstan draining the pond. Basin
of the lake stretched and dismembered. Significant impact on the composition of
the water quality of Lake Balkhash has low water and water withdrawals for
irrigation of the main sources of lakes - Ili, Karatal and Lepsy;
- Undecided status of the Toktogul gidroelektrstantsii
- Lack of water in the channel Dostyk;
- The problem of the Rogun hydroelectric station. [5]
The above problems were due to the lack of a unified system of the
agreement. Develops due to the lack of normative legal acts of transboundary
rivers, separation and non-recognition of leadership, the deficit of water in
any of the countries of Central Asia is perceived as a direct threat to
national interests and security, the difference of social and political life,
the economic process, the prospects of integration in Central Asia largely
depend on how well and efficiently countries in the region will be able to
solve the problems of water and energy resources. population growth, shortage
of staff in the field of ecology, conflicts at the borders, ineffectual
organization's work in the region have led to the disruption of the natural
water balance and the balance of nature in the area of lakes,
wildlife degradation, lack of water resources for agriculture, migration from
the territories subject to clogging, deterioration of public health and climate
change. We offer ways to solve these problems:
- It shall be ensured public participation in the management, planning and
development of water resources. Water management should be carried out under
conditions of adequate information security, openness and
"transparency";
- Effective development of environmental education;
- Improvement of law - the legal framework of environmental security in
Central Asia;
- Rules of water resources management;
- Monitoring of emissions of waste management and resolution;
- Do not forget a single history of the region and fraternal relations;
- Make steps for the development of integration towards the region;
- Unsubscribe from the mentality of leadership;
- Development of the economy in each country;
- For the sake of future generations to create a common interest;
- Improving the cooperation within international organizations;
- Help investors and international financial institutions;
- Use the experience of Western countries.
Every nation in the way
development is experiencing different problems. Not so much time has passed
since independence in Central Asia, and our future ahead. Carrying out all this
work I am confident that we are the people of Central Asia in the future will
become the richest regions in the CIS.
Literature:
1. http://voprosik.net/problema-vody-v-srednej-azii/ [1]
2. http://www.unece.org/fileadmin/DAM/env/water/publications/brochure/Convention_R_A4.pdf [2]
3. http://www.vestnik-kafu.info/journal/7/257/[3]