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Enhancing Regional Cooperation on Central Asian Waterways
October 29th, 2008
As recently reported by the European Water News, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) is aiming to enhance regional cooperation on vital Central Asian waterways whose management and protection are crucial to the region’s economic growth and social well-being. As the article notes: “…The Syr Darya and Amu Darya rivers, which criss-cross a large part of […]
Read more »Holes in the Dike: Prospects for the Central Asian Water Accord Holding
October 27th, 2008
Via Windows on Eurasia, a sanguine – but possibly quite realistic – view on the potential of the recently announced Central Asian water accord holding due to the complexity of the agreement and the widening differences in wealth/growth of the member states. As the article notes: “…After the CIS summit in Bishkek, the five post-Soviet […]
Read more »Water – Energy Links in Central Asia
August 1st, 2008
A second excellent piece from the Brookings Insitution details Central Asia’s opportunities and challenges to make better and more efficient use of it water resources, both by investing in large water storage and hydropower capacity and by more efficient utilization of water, especially in irrigation use. As the article notes: “…A visit to the site […]
Read more »Serious Regional Water Crisis Looming: Central Asia
August 1st, 2008
A highly informative piece recently published by Brookings examines the current and coming water ‘crisis’ facing Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, as well as Afghanistan, Mongolia and the Western most province of China, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. The article details the complicated dance between the region’s countries, with Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan upstream […]
Read more »Water Scarcity and Trans-Boundary Tensions In The Deserts of Central Asia
July 18th, 2008
Via The Guardian, an interesting look at the issue of water scarcity in the deserts of central Asia. As the article notes: “…Water is a precious resource in the desert lands of Central Asia, where only the Aral Sea and a few rivers must provide enough water for the region’s 60 million people. But while […]
Read more »Could Water Needs Unite Central Asian States Vs. Driving Them Apart?
June 29th, 2008
As reported by Window on Eurasia, most analysts see competition for water driving the five countries of Central Asia apart, possibly even leading to military conflicts among them. But a Kyrgyz ecologist argues that in fact both these countries and the international community should make access to water the basis for closer cooperation among them. […]
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