In a statement delivered at the Water Summit 2016 in Budapest. Tajik President Emomali Rahmon noted on November 28 that the Government of Tajikistan continuously focuses on the issues of effective use of water resources, water loss reduction, water quality improvement and reduction of water resources pollution, according to the Tajik president’s official website.
“To that end, the Water Sector Reform Program (2016-2025) approved by the Government in December of the last year includes a comprehensive and integrated approach, which can serve as the core principle to achieve success in this area,” the president said.
According to him, this Program is based on two main principles: clarification of policy and operation functions and transition to river basin principles of management.
“Introduction of integrated water resources management (IWRM) and other objectives included in the SDGs on water are also incorporated in the 2030 National Development Strategy of Tajikistan.” Rahmon noted.
“Tajikistan has been actively promoting water issues in the global agenda during the last two decades,” said the president. “By the initiative of Tajikistan and a number of other countries the UNGA launched International Year of Fresh Water (2003), International Decade of Action “Water for Life” (2005-2015) and the International Year of Water Cooperation (2013).”
These global events reportedly made a decent contribution in deeper understanding of water importance both for socioeconomic growth and environmental sustainability as well as ensuring peace, stability and development.
“In this context we proposed to launch International Decade of Action “Water for Sustainable Development”. In our opinion, this initiative will create a good platform to achieve SDGs on water by promoting the strengthening of the role of water in achievement of internationally agreed goals and objectives. The process of consideration of the relevant UNGA draft resolution is about to be finalized and we hope that it will be adopted by consensus by the end of this year,” Rahmon said.
