Representatives of over 60 international organizations and financial institutions, of 36 foreign states including UN, OSCE, World Bank, World Health Organization, World Wild Nature Fund, International Union of Nature Protection and others, 32 embassies and foreign missions in Uzbekistan, popular scientists of leading world research centres and Uzbekistan, heads of the state nature protection organizations and NGOs participated in the conference. Total number of participants made up 250, including 110 foreign representatives.

Participants visited and familiarized with Aral Sea Basin and familiarized with ecologic situation in the region. They also familiarized with impact of Tajik aluminum plant to environment and population of the region.

During the discussions of ecologic situation in Central Asia and construction of large hydraulic establishments, participants concluded that irrational use of water resources followed by the change of flow regime of Amudarya and Syrdarya rivers during the last decades was the cause of the one of the most crucial global ecological catastrophes – drying of the Aral Sea.

In his speech at the United Nations Summit on the Millennium Development Goals, President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov mentioned that “A striking example demonstrating our irresponsive attitude to environment problems is the Aral Sea tragedy that practically during life of only one generation turned from one of the unique and most beautiful seas to a drying up and disappearing reservoir”.

Participants of the conference noted that implementation of large hydro power stations with giant dams, which were developed 30-40 year ago, could irreversible damage the environment. They underlined that any decrease of the flow of these rivers will radically break existing ecological balance in the region. This can lead to the enlargement of the disaster zone and increase of salinized lands, which are not usable for agriculture and living. It can also lead to loss of flora and fauna in the region and create menace to the health and gene pool of population.

The effective management of transboundary water resources in Central Asia is impeded by the condition that two states of the region located in the upper reaches of the main water ways still did not join international UN Conventions on transboundary water ways.

In this context international conference noted that the states of the region should strive for transboundary cooperation in accordance with the key documents of international law, including UN Conventions “On the protection and use of transboundary water courses and international lakes” (1992) and “On Right of Unnavigable Use of International Waterways” (1997), which determine the main principles of the use of transboundary rivers and within their relevant territory should use transboundary rivers in fair and rational way and to avoid causing the damage to the other states of transboundary water course.

The conference recommended than the erection of any big hydraulic work in upper reaches of transboundary water courses of Central Asia should be advanced by the independent international technical and ecological expertise being performed on the transparent basis for the sake of interests of population and rational use of nature by all states in the region. With this the international ecological organizations should contribute to the public consideration and the transparent activity of the international financial institutions and organizations in all cases when they work out the decision on the financial support of the big hydropower projects in the states of the region, especially on transboundary rivers.

None of the projects of hydraulic works construction in upper reaches of transboundary rivers or big industrial object which affects the environment should not be approved in case if it worsens the life of population or has negative effect on the territory of neighbor countries. It is mandatory than not only the benefits of beneficiaries from the project, but also the rights of population of neighbor countries in the zone of the project impact should be regarded.

It was emphasized that international financial institutions and organizations should facilitate strengthening of ecological stability of the region including also honest attempts for the cooperation with civil society of all countries in the zone of the project action before the approval of these projects and openness of dialogues to give possibility to people whose income sources or houses can be damaged by the project to express their concern and to reject implementation of project which did not get wide public support in the whole region.

According to recommendations of international ecological organizations and the World commission on dams, it is more rational for Central Asia to construct less dangerous and more efficient small hydropower stations rather than the large one. At the same time it is necessary to strive for the selection of alternative energy sources, including solar and wind power.

At the conference, participants considered issues related to the negative impact of harmful industrial emissions of the aluminum plant to the environment for last 35 years. Participants had chance to visit Surkhandarya region and got familiarized with drastic negative impact of emissions to the health and gene pool of population living in the northern regions of Surkhandarya region, flora and fauna, quality and productivity of agricultural crops, including food products.

Participants called to ensure measures needed for installation of filtering equipment, which would enable to decrease emissions to level of international standards. This will improve ecological situation in the zone of the negative impact of aluminum plant.

Participants of conference considered that the most important tasks of the states of Central Asia are: