ISLAMABAD, MAY 21 (DNA) – Ambassador of Tajikistan to Pakistan Sherali Jononov has said upcoming water conference in Tajikistan is going to be a significant event. A large number of foreign delegates including delegates from Pakistan are scheduled to attend the conference.Ambassador Sherali expressed these views during a press conference held at the embassy on Thursday.The ambassador further said, our government has extended an invitation to Prime Minister of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif and we hope he shall be able to make it to the conference. He told, many Pakistanis have already conveyed their willingness to participate in the conference.

He said, the primary goal of the conference is a comprehensive discussion of the issues of implementation of the international Decade for Action Water For Life 2005-2015,  which will later play a crucial role in conducting comprehensive review of the implementation of the international Decade with bringing its results to the notice of the wider international community.

He said the conference is conducted by the government of Tajikistan in coopeation with UN agencies and other development partners, in accordance with the United Nations General Assembly Resolution A/RES/69/215 OF 19 December 2014 on the international Decade for Action Water for Life 2005, 2015 and further efforts to achieve sustainable development of water resources.

The ambassador further said, the conference also provides an opportunity to discuss the challenges and gaps in the implementation of the international decade and on these basis recommendations for further action after 2015 including contribution to the development of the sustainable development goals related to water resources will be elaborated.
Ambassador Sherali further said, the representatives of the UN including the Secretary General Ban ki Moon would participate in the conference. It is expected that the conference participants will elaborate recommendations and proposals aimed at strengthening of measures taken at the national, regional and international levels to achieve the internationally agreed water-related goals.
He said, the conference will promote the awareness of the international community on the water sector trends and mobilizing efforts of the governments, UN institutions, international and non-governmental organizations as well as other parties at all levels involved in the water problems solution.
Giving a brief account of Tajikistan’s water resources, the ambassador said, Tajikistan is a mountainous country located in the south-east of Central Asia. Its territory is a 142.6 thousand Km2. By its relief, Tajikistan is a typical mountainous country with the absolute altitudes from 300 to 7,495 m. The climate of Tajikistan is continental with considerable daily and seasonal fluctuations in air temperature, low rainfall, dry air and low clouds.
The ambassador also talked about energy project CASA 1000 and hoped the project will be completed by 2017. Pakistan, he said will be able to get highly cheap and clean energy from Tajikistan after completion of this project.
Most of the pollution related problems of Pakistan will also come to an end after Tajik energy starts pouring into Pakistan, the ambassador added.
Meanwhile the President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon said in a statement that Tajikistan is the initiator of a number of vital “water” resolutions of the UN General Assembly, and two initiatives – the International Decade for Action “Water for Life”, 2005-2015 and the International Year of Water Cooperation, 2013 – were declared by me for the first time at the water forums – at the 3rd Forum in Kyoto and within the framework of the 5th Forum in Istanbul.
He said that he was confident that the current Forum will also become a platform for new initiatives and ideas, aimed at solving water problems for our common safe future.
According to the UN General Assembly resolution entitled “International Decade for Action “Water for Life”, 2005-2015 and further efforts to achieve sustainable development of water resources” adopted last year in December, there will be held a High-Level International Conference on the implementation of the International Decade on 9-11 June 2015 in Dushanbe.
I believe that in the framework of the Dushanbe Conference with participation of the representatives of the UN member states, regional and international organizations, as well as NGOs and the private sector there will be conducted a comprehensive assessment of the implementation of the International Decade “Water for Life” and outlined the next steps for the achievement of sustainable development in the field of water resources.
Taking this opportunity, once again, on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan I would like to invite all interested parties to participate in this international event and contribute to its success, the Tajik president added.