DUSHANBE, April 3, 2010, Asia-Plus — The United Nations is ready to assist Central Asia’s countries with tackling problems impeding management of natural, water and energy resources, the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon remarked at the UN Regional Center for Preventive Diplomacy in Central Asia (UNRCCA) in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan on April 2, according to Russia’s news agency.
Mr. Ban noted that the Central Asian countries had common tasks, common difficulties and common responsibility. Of course, there is difference of position of the Central Asian countries on the issues related to use of water, management of water and natural resources such as oil and gas, energy resources, he said, noting that those issues should be solved on the basis of mutual understanding and cooperation. The United Nations is ready to work with them in this direction, especially through the UNRCCA, the UN secretary general said.
Ashgabat was the first stop on Mr. Ban”s first official visit to Central Asia since becoming Secretary-General. Mr. Ban discussed human rights and other global and regional issues with the President of Turkmenistan, Gurbanguly Berdymuhammedov
From Ashgabat, Mr. Ban today traveled to Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, where he is to address the country”s Parliament and meet President Kurmanbek Bakieyv and Foreign Minister Kadyrbek Sarbayev.
On April 4, Ban heads to Uzbekistan, where he is to meet President Islam Karimov and deliver a lecture at Tashkent”s University of World Economy and Diplomacy. Ban is also scheduled to make a trip to the Aral Sea to see firsthand the ecological damage inflicted on what was once the world”s fourth-largest lake.
From Uzbekistan, Ban is to continue on April 5 to Tajikistan, where he is scheduled to meet President Emomali Rahmon ad Foreign Minister Hamrokhon Zarifi.
The final leg of the UN chief”s Central Asian trip is Kazakhstan on April 6-7. There, Ban is to meet with President Nursultan Nazarbayev and members of parliament.
