Promoting dialogue and confidence-building on transboundary waterways between Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan
The 11th Working Group Meeting on Environmental Protection under the Secretariat of the Intergovernmental Chu-Talas Water Commission (the Commission) took place on 21 November 2023 in Almaty city. The meeting was supported and co-organized by the OSCE Programme Office in Astana (POiA) and the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek (POiB), in close co-operation with the Commission. The Commission has been conducting relevant work with support of the OSCE since 2006.
The meeting gathered 34 officials and water specialists from Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan to discuss a wide-range of topics, such as presenting results of hydrometeorological monitoring at agreed gauging stations in 2022, exchanging results of laboratory water quality assessments made in 2023, and seasonal co-ordinated water sampling in 2024.
Participants also had an opportunity to discuss a desk study of the impacts of climate change on transboundary river basins of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan (for the Asmara/Aspara and Kurkuroo/Kurkureusu). Following the revision of the Water Code in Kazakhstan and important role of basin councils therein, a number of recommendations were presented on how small basin councils can contribute to improving transboundary co-operation.
In early November, the POiA and POiB assisted the Commission in conducting a visit to the Orto-Tokoy Reservoir for completion of technical inspections of a set of cone valves, the working outlet tunnel of the dam, and the state of bank protection in its lower pool. This work and results were also presented at the 11th Working Group Meeting.
In conclusion to the Working Group Meeting, the Commission adopted a work plan for 2024, encompassing mutually agreed-upon seasonal water sampling and topics for the next (12th) Working Group Meeting to be held in Bishkek in 2024.
The work of the Commission has been supported by the POiA, in co-operation with the POiB, as a multi-year effort to raise awareness and enhance capacities of relevant state institutions in the area of water governance, transboundary dialogue on managing water resources, and strengthen confidence-building amongst neighbouring OSCE participating States.
As an example of its support – the POiA also provided support to the Commission through the development of a publication entitled “Needs assessment for the conservation of globally important wetlands in the Chu river basin (within Kazakhstan’s territory)”, describing the current state of ecosystems and biodiversity in the lower Chu river (Kazakhstan), as well as providing data on climate, flora and vegetation, hydrology, ichthyofauna, and fauna of terrestrial vertebrates, including birds, covering the last 30 years. The publication is available here (in Russian language): https://www.osce.org/programme-office-in-astana/548299