THE PROBLEMS OF JOINT USE OF WATER RESOURCES IN CENTRAL ASIA
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.52754/16948610_2025_3_0_3%20Keywords:
transboundary water, Central Asia, cooperation, upstream-downstream conflict, legal frameworks, national interests, water resources managementAbstract
This article explores the complex institutional, legal, and geopolitical dimensions of transboundary water management in Central Asia. Based on the master`s thesis, it examines how historical legacies, fragmented legal frameworks, and climate change continue to shape regional water cooperation. Special emphasis is placed on Kyrgyzstan’s national strategy and its upstream geopolitical position. The study reviews the role of institutions such as the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS), the Interstate Commission for Water Coordination (ICWC), and international partners like the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). Comparative lessons from other basins, such as the Mekong and Nile, are used to illustrate effective governance models. The paper concludes with recommendations for harmonizing national legislation, enhancing data transparency, and strengthening basin-level institutions.
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