Washington Forum takes water uncertainty in Central Asia – the voice of America

Central Asia has a growing population, increasing economic demand and severe water shortage, which require more coordination between governments and international assistance groups to build an extremely necessary water infrastructure, experts in the region say.

“There is no solution to these problems with water without political solutions to regional problems including regional integration to a unique degree,” said Wesley Alexander Hill, a leading analyst at the International Tax and Investment Center, said the Atlantic Council forum in Washington last week.

Hill explained that the origin of large rivers in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan depends to a large extent on sources in Russia, China and Afghanistan.

He also pointed out the belt and roadway initiative, which promised water investment in Kazakhstan, and the construction of Afghanistan on the Qosh Tepa channel, which threatens to reduce the flow of water from Hindu Kush in the side countries such as Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan.

Central Asian governments over the years have sought agreements related to water with Moscow, Beijing and Kabul.

Hill said the modernization of water infrastructure in these countries provides economic opportunities.

“Investing in infrastructure and resources in Central Asia is not a charity project,” he said. “It can actually be quite profitable. There is a lot of money that should be made not only by Chinese and Russian companies, but, hopefully, from US and European companies, in areas such as ReLining Canals. “

Wilder Alejandro Sanchez, president of second -floor strategies, emphasized the need for “realistic and rational policy recommendations” to achieve water security in Central Asia.

“We are encouraging local authorities to apply technologies such as water measuring systems, drip irrigation, and gray water recycling,” Sanchez told the forum present.

He also urged politicians to guarantee accountability and transparency, given the well -documented Central Asia record for corruption and assignment. He suggested that water security projects be monitored by international audit agencies to build public confidence.

The Atlantic Council panelists also proposed the restructuring of the interstate waters coordination committee in the region, established in 1992, in a more efficient Water Council in Central Asia or a permanent administrative service.

Governments in Central Asia already have their own initiatives. Tajikistan, for example, leads Dusanbe’s water process, while Kazakhstan plans to host the environmental summit in Central Asia next year.

Sanchez and his colleagues encouraged republics in Central Asia, whose representatives were at the forum, to work not only with the United States, but also with European and Asian partners, including the Netherlands, France, South Korea and Japan.

Sanchez admitted that achieving unity and cooperation remained a challenge, given regional geopolitics and internal priorities.

“After all, no individual Central Asia country can achieve general water security and independence of water without cooperating with its neighbors and significantly improves water management,” he said.

For decades, international organizations and researchers have warned of the environmental disaster that is unfolding in Central Asia, especially the shrinking of the Aral Sea, which has lost the bigger part of its volume since the 1960s. The Caspian Sea, the only remaining main water in the region, also dries.

Ariel Cohen, a non -resident senior associate at the Atlantic Council, who was also in the panel, said the deterioration of infrastructure as a key problem.

“A lot of water is lost because modern irrigation technologies are not used. You still have channels from the Soviet era or even a pre -Soviet traditional channels that are simply dug into the ground without any protection against evaporation or distraction, “Cohen said. “The transition to the distribution of the water pipe, drip irrigation and sprinklers will probably save 50% of water consumption and move the region to a much more balanced water management.”

Experts believe that modernization will cost billions of dollars, and the question of where this funding will come from will remain open.

“If it’s not the United States, it will be someone else. The best scenario? If we are not us [the U.S.]These are Europeans. The worst scenario? This is the Chinese, ”Cohen said.

It remains to be seen that other analysts listening to the panel said whether the Trump administration’s “America” ​​policy would support such a participation.

“Often, when we talk about relations between Asian Asia in the United States, we focus on the big picture,” Sanchez said. “We need to diversify the US -Central Asia commitment.”

Water safety and environmental protection are high -impact initiatives, he says not only will enhance connections but also improve the US image in Central Asia.

“We also want the people from Central Asia to see the United States as a friend,” Sanchez said.