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WATER DIPLOMACY OF UZBEKISTAN AND REGIONAL SECURITY
ISSUES
Kenjayev Amirbek Alijon ugli
Lecturer at the Department of Public Administration,
Tashkent State Law University
+998946918611
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14870712
Abstract:
The article reviews the foreign policy of the Republic of
Uzbekistan in the field of transboundary water use in recent years. Particular
attention is paid to the achievements of Uzbekistan's water diplomacy and its
future tasks. In addition, new challenges related to the use of transboundary
waters in Central Asia and the issues of the "Koshtepa" canal being built by
Afghanistan were also discussed.
Keywords:
transboundary waters, water diplomacy, international law, UN,
Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Central Asia.
Today, the issue of providing the population with water is more important
than ever in the Republic of Uzbekistan. Geographically, Uzbekistan is located in
Central Asia, one of the water-scarce regions of the world. This region, including
Uzbekistan, is characterized by a growing economy, population, and
environmental threats. According to analytical data from international
organizations such as the UN and the World Bank, the population of Central Asia
is expected to exceed 100 million by 2050. Uzbekistan is recognized as the
country with the largest population (about 50 million people). The increase in
population will also increase the demand for water resources in a proportional
way [1].
According to the World Health Organization standards, today one person
needs 50-100 liters of water per day for their needs, and according to data from
“Uzsuvtaminot” JSC, this indicator in Uzbekistan is an average of 99.2 liters per
person per day. The indicator looks like this in the regions of the world: 500
liters in Saudi Arabia; 450 liters in the US; 340 liters in Canada; 320 liters in
Japan; 250 liters in the Russian Federation; Due to the high cost of water supply
services in Western Europe, it varies from 130 to 180 liters; 10-20 liters in rural
areas of Africa [2].
According to the Ministry of Water Resources of the Republic of Uzbekistan,
80 percent of Uzbekistan's water resources come from other countries, and 20
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percent are produced domestically. Analyses show that by 2030, Uzbekistan
may face a water shortage of 7 billion cubic meters [3].
Current conditions and future challenges related to water resources require
the establishment of effective public governance in the field of water use in
Uzbekistan. This requires the implementation of organizational and legal
measures, the formation of a mass culture of rational water use, and the conduct
of mutually beneficial water diplomacy with Uzbekistan's neighboring countries.
In recent years, issues of increasing water use efficiency in Uzbekistan and
continuing water diplomacy with neighboring countries have been implemented
within the framework of strategic programs for the country's development. In
particular, the tasks of ensuring the rational use of water resources, improving
the culture of water use, and delivering fresh water reserves to future
generations are reflected in the Development Strategy of New Uzbekistan for
2022-2026, the "Uzbekistan - 2030" strategy, annual state programs, and other
documents.
Efficiency indicators of water diplomacy of Uzbekistan
Today, under the initiative of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan,
Sh. Mirziyoyev, large-scale reforms are being implemented in every sphere. As a
result of the initiatives and political will of our head of state, Uzbekistan's
foreign policy has also taken on a new look. The Central Asian region has been
identified as the most important region in Uzbekistan's foreign policy. It should
be noted that this approach to Uzbek foreign policy has also had a positive
impact on the peaceful resolution of transboundary water use issues in the
region.
As noted above, Uzbekistan meets 80 percent of its annual water needs
through transboundary water resources. Uzbekistan is located in the center of
the region, shares borders with all Central Asian countries, and has interactions
with all of these countries on the use of transboundary waters. In the future,
Uzbekistan will need to conduct effective water diplomacy with regional
countries to meet the water needs of its growing economy and population.
At this point, it is appropriate to mention some information about
international legal documents in the field of water reserves and use of
transboundary water resources in Central Asia:
firstly, more than 60 percent of the region's freshwater reserves are
mountain glaciers (one-third of which has melted in the last thirty years), and
they are currently rapidly melting due to global climate change. According to
scientists' forecasts, the melting of Central Asian glaciers will peak between
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2035 and 2055. By 2100, the region's glacier reserves are expected to lose 75
percent of their 2015 volume [4];
Secondly, the Afghan interim government is building the "Koshtepa" canal
on the Amu Darya. According to experts, the completion and commissioning of
this canal could lead to a 25-30 percent reduction in the water Uzbekistan
receives from the Amu Darya. In this regard, the President of the Republic of
Uzbekistan Sh. Mirziyoyev, during his visit to Surkhandarya region on November
17, 2023, stated that the flow of the Amu Darya and Syrdarya rivers is expected
to decrease by 15% in the next twenty years and that the idea that “water is not
free” should be deeply instilled in the population [5];
Thirdly, in accordance with international law, Uzbekistan has undertaken a
number of obligations to ensure the rational use of water. In particular, the
Republic of Uzbekistan has ratified the 1992 UN Convention on the Protection
and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes (entered into
force in Uzbekistan in 2007) [6] and the 1997 UN Convention on the Right to Use
International Watercourses without Navigation (entered into force in
Uzbekistan in 2014) [7].
So, how effective is Uzbekistan's modern water diplomacy?
It is no exaggeration to say that Uzbekistan's water diplomacy with regional
countries in 2018-2023 has led to historic results. Uzbekistan's policy on
transboundary water use with regional countries during this period has helped
find diplomatic solutions to many problems in the field. In particular, the
following examples of historic agreements can be cited as evidence of the
effectiveness of Uzbekistan's water diplomacy:
In 2018, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan reached a mutually beneficial agreement
on the Farkhod and Rogun hydroelectric power plants, and in 2022, the heads of
state of both countries launched the construction of the Yavon hydroelectric
power plant on the Zarafshan River [8].
At the end of 2017, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan established a joint
intergovernmental commission on water issues. In 2022, both countries ratified
an agreement on the joint management of water resources of the Andijan
(Kampirabad) reservoir [9].
An agreement was reached between Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and
Uzbekistan on the use of the Toktagul reservoir in 2021 [10]. In January 2023,
these countries approved the project for the construction of the Kambarata-1
HPP, and an investment agreement was signed between Uzbekistan and
Kyrgyzstan on the construction of the Kambarata-1 HPP [11].
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It should be emphasized that these historic agreements, achieved as a result
of Uzbekistan's initiative and political will, are primarily aimed at meeting the
water needs of our population, economy, and future generations. Another
unique feature of these agreements and treaties is that they take into account
the water interests of all bordering and neighboring countries. Because water is
not the wealth of one people or nation, and when seeking solutions to problems
of transboundary water use, it is necessary to take into account the interests of
all parties using it.
To date, we can see the effectiveness of Uzbekistan's water diplomacy
through historical agreements reached with neighboring countries and practical
results. However, there are still many problems and challenges that our
country's water diplomacy will have to solve in the future. One of them is
undoubtedly the issue of the "Koshtepa" canal being built on the Amu Darya by
the interim Afghan government. It is noteworthy that Uzbekistan was the first
Central Asian country to express its opinion on the construction of this canal. In
particular, on December 20, 2022, the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan
Sh. Mirziyoyev, in his address to the Oliy Majlis and the people of Uzbekistan,
emphasized the need to conduct practical dialogues on the construction of a new
canal in the Amu Darya basin with the interim government of neighboring
Afghanistan and the world community, based on international norms and taking
into account the interests of all countries in the region. Uzbekistan has been a
supporter of the creation of organizational and legal mechanisms based on
international law for the construction of the canal and the entry of Afghanistan
as a new participant in the relations of transboundary water use in Central Asia.
Negotiations in this direction are ongoing between the delegations of Uzbekistan
and the interim government of Afghanistan.
Uzbekistan's water diplomacy is also distinguished by its initiative.
Uzbekistan is promoting many initiatives aimed at further improving
transboundary water relations and adapting them to future developments. In
particular, on September 15, 2023, the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan
Sh. Mirziyoyev, in his speech at the meeting of the Council of Heads of State of
the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea, put forward a number of
initiatives to improve mechanisms for the joint use of transboundary waters
[12]:
firstly, to further improve the legal framework and modernize the
institutional mechanisms of the International Fund for Saving the Island. It was
proposed to review the main documents and agreements, including the revision
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of the Foundation's Charter adopted in the 1990s, jointly analyze the activities of
the current structure and prepare proposals to coordinate the work of the
organizations within the Foundation and increase its effectiveness, and develop
"Rules and Procedures" that would clearly regulate its activities and
cooperation;
secondly, it was emphasized the need to strengthen the systematic
cooperation on attracting investment, technology and technical assistance for
the promotion of regional projects. It was mentioned that each of our countries
should commit to attract foreign aid to regional projects, setting clear target
indicators;
thirdly, proposals were made to pay special attention to the regional
organization of work with young people in the areas of forming a culture of
economical use of water and other natural resources, adopting a special
program, and supporting youth initiatives and startups.
In addition, the head of our state expressed his views on the construction of
the "Koshtepa" canal and suggested that its launch could fundamentally change
the order and balance of water use in Central Asia, therefore, he suggested to
consider the issue of involving Afghanistan's representatives in the regional
dialogue on the joint use of water resources.
Based on the above, we can conclude that in recent years Uzbekistan has
been systematically approaching the issues of water resources use. The strategic
programs adopted in our country and the practical measures being implemented
show that water use issues have become a separate, important direction of state
policy. Uzbekistan's water diplomacy with neighboring countries has provided
an opportunity to achieve a number of historic results. However, there are the
following issues that Uzbekistan should pay special attention to in the future in
the field of water diplomacy:
first, most of the interstate agreements on transboundary water use in
Central Asia were adopted almost 30 years ago, when the situation with water
resources in the region was significantly different from today. One of the future
tasks of Uzbek water diplomacy is to find a "golden mean" between the national
interests of our country and the interests of the region in renewing these
interstate agreements;
second, to organize the development of a general approach of the countries
of the region regarding the goals and principles of the use of transboundary
waters. Every year, water resources in Central Asia are decreasing, and 80
percent of Uzbekistan's water resources are formed in transboundary rivers. In
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this situation, our country will need to organize the development of a common
policy for the use of transboundary waters by the countries of the region;
third, the "Koshtepa" canal being built on the Amu Darya is becoming the most
important regional issue that Uzbek water diplomacy needs to resolve, which
requires the development of international legal foundations for the construction
and commissioning of the canal, as well as continuing negotiations with the
interim government of Afghanistan on this issue.
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