Meeting to discuss the target indicators of Kazakhstan

On the 7^th of April 2017 in Kyzylorda a meeting to discuss the target indicators of Kazakhstan on the Protocol of the problems of water and health to Convention on the protection and use of transboundary watercourses and international lakes (hereafter – the Protocol) was held.

The meeting bought together, apart from the parties concerned, Bolat Bekniyaz, the director of EB IFAS in RK, Kaini Stamkulova, chief specialist of the Socio-economic department of EB IFAS in RK. This meeting was organized with the support of the Economic Commission for Europe of UN and International Fund for saving the Aral Sea within the framework of EU/UNDP/ECE UN “Support Kazakhstan for transition to the model of green economy” project in concert with the Committee of public health protection of the Ministry of healthcare of the RK and “Water initiatives centre” Public foundation.

On the beginning of the meeting Bolat Bekniyaz made an opening statement, emphasizing the importance of the issue of water quality in Kazakhstan, particularly in Kyzylorda oblast, where the Kazakhstan part of the Aral Sea basin is. He stated that despite considerable improvement with water supply in the region, there are still some unsolved tasks with water supply of distant settlements, as well as with sanitation (drainage). The proposal on development of pilot target indicators as standards of water quality for Kyzylorda oblast with future spreading to the other oblasts of the country was put forward by him.

During the meeting, projects of target indicators were considered by its participants who were divided into two groups, which were developed by experts in accordance with article 6 of the Protocol on problems of water and health of Convention on the protection and use of transboundary watercourses and international lakes within the framework of the project “Support for Kazakhstan to transit to green economy model” implemented by EU, UNDP, UNECE.

On the 3^rd Session chief specialist of EB IFAS, Stamkulova K.Zh. presented implemented and forthcoming projects of EB IFAS on the territory of Kazakh part of the Aral Sea basin.

As a result of the Meeting a final resolution shall be adopted.