DUSHANBE, June 15, 2009, Asia-Plus — A rational use of water and energy resources in the Central Asia region is one of the key problems, directly or indirectly affecting all aspects of vital activity of the region’s peoples, including regional security and stability, ecology and economic cooperation as well as interstate relationships, Mr. Ishenbay Abdurazakov, member of Kyrgyzstan’s Public Council, said n an interview with Asia-Plus.
Kyrgyz official was in Dushanbe to participate at a roundtable meeting entitled “Water and Energy Problems in Central Asia: Is Compromise Possible?” that was held in Dushanbe on June 12.
He expressed regret that under conditions of acquisition of sovereignty the essence of the concept of an all-inclusive usage of water and energy resources in the region had been diluted.
“We could retain the concept of the Soviet time by joint efforts, moving towards regional integration,” said Kyrgyz expert, “An attempt to set up an efficient integrating structure has not been crowned with success, because our leaders have chosen differently directed priorities and strategies of development. Under such an approach to solution of complex problems, it was difficult to avoid subjectivism, the main shortcoming of which is inclination to exaggerating ability of their country to ensure economic breakthrough on its own and underestimating advantages of integration.”
However, despite lack of a single view on the integration issues it is very important not to lose sight of a long-term outlook, Abdurazakov said.
We will recall that the October 22, 2008 “RFE/RL News” item titled “Central Asians Achieve Breakthrough Over Precious Resources” noted that officials from five Central Asia’s states gathered in Kazakhstan on October 18 2008 to discuss issues related to distribution of water and energy resources. The item said that the officials agreed to “a deal that looks to be to the satisfaction of all. Under the complex new arrangement, the region”s energy-rich countries will provide more of their resources to their energy-poor neighbors in return for guaranteed water supplies.”
The article noted that Central Asia”s energy and reservoir networks are still mainly the product of Soviet times, when they were all part of the same country and it did not matter whose water or gas, electricity or oil went where in Central Asia. But now those energy and water systems are linking independent countries that are not always on good terms with one another.
The core of the problem is simple: Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan have oil and natural gas but little water; Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, on the other hand, are lacking substantial energy resources but the mountains that supply Central Asia”s great rivers are located on their territories.
