Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- A parliamentary delegation of Uzbekistan, led by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Development of the Aral Sea Region and Ecology B. Alikhanov, took part in a meeting of the Expert Council on Ecology and Environmental Management at the Inter-Parliamentary Assembly of the CIS Member States and the international forum " Sustainable development of mountain territories”, held last week in St. Petersburg.

During the meeting of the Expert Council, the directions of the council’s work, environmental problems associated with oil production and oil refining were discussed, and ways to solve them were outlined. Model laws “On radioactive waste management” were studied; “On specially protected natural areas.” They talked about the development of youth environmental policy and regulatory legal acts of the CIS IPA.

Parliamentarians, scientists and experts from the Commonwealth countries also discussed the issues of decommissioning facilities with accumulated environmental damage, ways to solve them, as well as ensuring the environmental safety of the regions.

Chairman of the Senate Committee of the Oliy Majlis on the development of the Aral Sea region and ecology B. Alikhanov in his report provided detailed information on the work being carried out in the country to improve national legislation. He noted that a strong legal framework has been created in this area in the republic that meets modern requirements. Currently, there are more than 30 laws and about 250 regulations regulating environmental issues, environmental protection and rational use of natural resources.

Moreover, the new edition of the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan includes norms on the rights of everyone to a favorable environment, reliable information about its condition, obligations to take care of the natural environment, state protection and rational use of land, its subsoil, water, flora and fauna, other natural resources.

The meeting participants were also informed about large-scale reforms in all spheres of society carried out in Uzbekistan.

Parliamentarians of our country also took part in two plenary sessions and thematic round tables of the International Forum “Sustainable Development of Mountain Territories”, during which the problems of forming public policy, improving legislation in the field of management and sustainable development of mountain territories were discussed.

During the Forum, issues related to ensuring rational environmental management, preserving the biodiversity of mountain areas, supporting and developing a network of specially protected natural areas, reducing the risks of natural destructive processes in the mountains and optimizing environmental-economic relations related to the exploitation of mountain resources and energy sources were also discussed.

The participants of the event made a proposal to organize an International Youth Environmental Center to study the entire range of scientific work for the wider involvement of youth in the study of scientific and practical issues of solving environmental problems in mountainous areas, as well as conducting scientific research.

During the “round table” held on the topic “Science for the Mountains”, in order to comprehensively solve emerging problems, protect and rationally use the natural potential of mountain ecosystems in Central Asia, Senator B. Alikhanov made a number of proposals that were supported by all participants.

Following the results of the international forum, a final resolution was adopted.