Interstate Commission for Water Coordination of Central Asia

We, heads of water-economy organizations of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan as a professionals, assessing inevitability of complicated situation connected with rising water deficit and ecological stress strengthening in the Aral sea basin, grounding on historical community equal rights and responsibilities for region water resources rational use reckon necessary:

1. recognize exclusive peculiarity of limited water basin which is the Aral sea basin, and necessity to take measures to avoid negative consequences connected with the Aral sea desiccation;

2. recognize indissoluble interdependence and relationship of all region peoples interests in common water resources use as a unified whole on the common principles and their consumption equitable regulation with regard to the all peoples interests;

3. reckon as reasonable under conditions of former economic relations interruption to unit existing and potential systems power for their common use, to continue study of opportunities for long-term co-operation, prospective development programs elaboration and joint institutional structures creation for activity coordination;

4. implement interstate water intake limits elaboration and correction, water consumption over the years and sources with due regard to guaranteed water supply to the Aral sea and Aral side;

5. reckon that priority task is relative equilibrium preservation, water supply provision in low reaches of Amudarya and Syrdarya due to establishing of the definite share for each republic;

6. provide full information exchange about water resources use, water consumption infrastructure, legal and other documents, determining the status of water as a resource and order of its use in the republics;

7. do not undertake any actions which can cause negative consequences for neighbors;

8. solve all disputes with participation of interested organizations' heads and independent sides representative. Only unity and mutual coordination of our actions may lead to efficient solution of water-related problems in the region under conditions of raising ecological stress.

12 October 1991, Tashkent