"We, neighbours, should approach this issue seriously. The water resources should be used taking into account the interests of the countries situated on the lower reaches of the [Amu Darya and Syr Darya] rivers [in the Central Asian region], specifically Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan," the report showed senator Yoqub Fattoyev as saying.
It showed another Uzbek MP saying that Tajik and Kyrgyz hydropower projects should be transparent and in line with international law.
Ziyodulla Ubaydullayev, a member of the Uzbek parliamentary committee for international affairs and inter-parliamentary relations, has said that Uzbekistan is a signatory to the UN convention on using transborder water resources. "Based on this convention, the construction of energy facilities on transborder rivers should be carried out in line with international examination stipulated by international law. In this context, the work currently being carried out in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan [to construct hydroelectric power stations on transborder rivers] should be transparent and meet international law," Ziyodulla Ubaydullayev said.
Foreign experts and representatives from NGOs also participated in the round table, the report added.