ISLAMABAD, FEB 15 (DNA) -:  Ambassador of Tajikistan Serhali Jononov has underlined the need for ensuring everybody’s access to clean water and sanitation adding his country shall continue supporting water for sustainable development initiatives.

He expressed these views while speaking on the occasion of one-day regional dialogue on sustainable development for water at PCRWR on Wednesday. This dialogue was continuation of initiatives taken by the Tajik government in this regard.

The ambassador said, in accordance with the UN resolution (OP3) the period from 2018 to 2028 is  proclaimed as the International Decade for Action “Water for Sustainable Development” to commence on 22 March 2018 and terminate on 22 March 2028 (22 March – World Water Day).

“As you might be aware, the initiative for proclamation of the International Decade for Action “Water for Sustainable Development” was launched for the first time by Emomali Rahmon, President of the Republic of Tajikistan which took place last year in April in the Republic of Korea”.

Ambassador Sherali said, in accordance with the UN General Assembly resolution (OP4) the objectives of the Decade will be mainly focused on: sustainable development and integrated management of water resources for the achievement of social, economic and environmental goals;- implementation and promotion of related programmes and projects;- furtherance of cooperation and partnership at all levels in order to help to achieve internationally agreed water-related goals and targets, including those contained in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

In January 2018 a preparatory process for convening the UNGA working-level dialogues will begin. A preparatory process for the midterm review of the implementation of the Decade in accordance with the present resolution will begin during the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly, i.e. in autumn of 2018, he added.

Speaking at the Water Forum held in Korea, the Tajik President stated that “… the modern global challenges and threats, including the financial and economic crisis, population growth, climate change, increase of natural hydro-meteorological phenomena, water scarcity and, as a result, increasing levels of poverty, spread of infectious diseases, child and maternal mortality still require the mobilization of our efforts and relevant measures”.

It is widely known that the initiative to proclaim the International Decade for Action “Water for Life”, 2005-2015” was also launched by the President of Tajikistan in 2003. That year, by the initiative of Tajikistan, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution, according to which the period of 2005-2015 was proclaimed as the International Decade for Action “Water for Life”.

The Tajik ambassador further said, the initial draft resolution of the UN General Assembly entitled “International Decade for Action “Water for Sustainable Development”, 2018-2028” was distributed among the permanent missions of the UN member states in mid-September 2016.

Then, within the framework of the Second Committee of the UN General Assembly, which deals with economic and financial issues, the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Tajikistan to the United Nations held a series of informal negotiations with the participation of the experts of UN member states, he maintained.

During the negotiations the draft resolution was finalized taking into account the views and suggestions of all interested member states, the ambassador concluded. =DNA

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