Rashid Kulmatov, expert of Ecologic Movement, said the meeting will consider ecologic condition of Zarafshan river. He said currently there is need to rate and forecast of river water quality, first of all trans-boundary rivers, including Zarafshan river. Protection and sustainable use of trans-boundary rivers’ water resources touches many people in the region. Zarafshan serves as main water source for over 7 million people.

Zarafshan river starts in Tajikistan at Koksu mountain units, located at junction between Turkistan and Zarafshan mountains range at the height of 2,800 meters. The river’s length is 870 km. About 95% of river resources are used by Uzbekistan. River waters are used to irrigate lands in Samarkand, Jizzakh, Kashkadarya and Navoi region.

Uzgidromet (Uzbek Hydrometeorology) controls water quality in three regions of Uzbekistan – Samarkand, Navoi and Bukhara. It is worth to mention that Uzbekistan receives water polluted, in particular the copper concentration exceeds admissible levels 1.5-4 times, phenol – 1.5 times and nitrite – 2.5 times.

Currently there is no legal norm between Uzbekistan and Tajikistan to regulate the issue. It is necessary to prepare inter-state document to set status of Zarafshan river and terms of joint rational use of water resources.

The main universal agreements on international water rights within the UN are Convention on protection and use of trans-boundary waterways and international lakes and Convention on innavigable use of international waterways. These documents take into account interests of all sides on rational user of trans-boundary rivers in their own territories. Uzbekistan signed these conventions to show its respect to norms and principles of international water rights.

It is known that Tajikistan is planning to implement complex programmes on use of water resources of Zarafshan for irrigation-energy purpose. At the same time, the analysis of the river conditions showed that the resources of the Zarafshan river are exhausted and any thoughtless interference to the situation can negatively impact water and ecologic situation in Uzbekistan.