Representatives of international and European political, economic and expert circles participated at the conference, Ecologic Movement of Uzbekistan said.

A delegation of Uzbekistan led by vice-speaker of Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis and chairperson of Ecologic Movement’s group in parliament Bori Alikhanov attended the event. The delegation also included representatives of the Uzbek Embassy in Belgium and Uzbek mission in European Union.

It was noted that Uzbekistan carries out significant work on mitigation of Aral ecologic catastrophe’s consequences. Uzbek President Islam Karimov initiated creation of public fund on protection of gene fund in Aral Sea Basin.

In his speech at the UN Summit on MDGs, President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov spoke about problems on protection of ecology and environment. He said: “The tragedy of Aral which practically during a lifetime of one generation has turned from once one of the unique and most beautiful seas into a drying and vanishing water reservoir stands as a vivid example and evidence of our irresponsible attitude towards the environmental problems.”

Uzbek President said: “By today a complex set of not only environmental, but also socio-economic and demographic problems, that have planetary-scale consequences, has emerged in the area adjacent to Aral. The UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon became convinced of this during his travel to the Aral Sea area earlier this year”.

Today important task is to preserve natural biologic fund of Aral Sea Basic, mitigate disastrous impact of Aral crisis to environment and the most important to live of thousand and millions of people, who live there.

The conference attracted interest in European Parliament. The conference moderator and MEP Struan Stevenson underlined importance of the conference, which directly touches lives and health of million people in Aral Sea Basin. He said that the Aral crisis has global character and its consequences spread far from the region.

Aral Sea was the fourth largest lake in the world with rich nature and fauna. The water volume at Aral Sea decreased 13 times.

Bori Alikhanov made a report “Ecologic problems and challenges in context of global cooperation on ensuring ecologic sustainability and stability in the region”. He rated current situation in Aral Sea Basin and measures, adopted by Uzbekistan, on localization of Aral ecologic catastrophe. He said that Uzbekistan spent US$1 billion in last ten years to finance various projects and programmes. Important tasks on overcoming consequences of Aral Sea catastrophe and ecological rehabilitation of Aral Sea Basin were underlined.

Attention of participants were attracted to that Aral Sea problem is directly connected with rational use of water-energy resources in the region, first of all main water arteries of Central Asia – Amu-Darya and Syr-Darya. It was noted necessity to carry out mandatory international expertise of all hydro-power projects at trans-boundary rivers, including such large projects as Kambarata power station and Rogun power station.

Professor of Nottingham University Sarah O’Hara underlined in her speech that the region has problems with water resources management. He said all countries, adjacent to Aral, should modernize all irrigation system, which was developed a long time ago.

She stated that Balkhash lake could repeat fate of Aral Sea after 20 years due to irrational use of water resources.

Participants noted that it is necessary to study international experience in water resource use of the countries and cooperation of International fund of rescue of Aral Sea with international and regional organizations on this issue.