Central Asian states open Aral Sea water diplomacy talks in Turkmenistan

September 11, 2026 at 11:31 PM2 min

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The Second Consultative Meeting of Central Asian Countries on the UN Special Programme for the Aral Sea Basin opened on 11 September 2026 in Turkmenistan's Avaza National Tourism Zone. Government representatives, international organizations, and water experts are discussing a common regional vision for the programme's priorities and implementation. The two-day meeting is expected to conclude with an agreed document reflecting participating countries' common approaches.

Key Facts

The Second Consultative Meeting of Central Asian Countries opened on 11 September 2026 in the Avaza National Tourism Zone, Turkmenistan.
The two-day meeting focuses on developing a common regional vision for the UN Special Programme for the Aral Sea Basin (UN SPAS).
The meeting is organized by Turkmenistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, State Committee for Water Resources, and Ministry of Environmental Protection within the UNDP/GEF Aral Sea Basin project.
Additional support is provided by the Blue Peace Central Asia initiative and the UNDP/GEF Aral Sea Wetlands project in Uzbekistan.
The meeting is expected to conclude with an agreed document reflecting participating countries' common approaches.

Meeting Agenda

On the first day, participants focused on the proposed UN Special Programme for the Aral Sea Basin, discussing its priorities, alignment with national and regional initiatives, and potential to strengthen regional cooperation on water security, ecosystem restoration, and water diplomacy. On the second day, participants will continue discussions on the Programme's priorities and implementation. The meeting is expected to conclude with an agreed document reflecting the participating countries' common approaches.

Regional Cooperation

Participants are discussing key issues related to sustainable management of water resources and natural ecosystems in the Aral Sea Basin. They are also exploring opportunities for closer coordination among countries of the region, international partners, and financial mechanisms. Narine Sahakyan, UNDP Resident Representative in Turkmenistan, said the Aral Sea Basin is a region where water resources, climate change, ecosystem health, and sustainable development are closely interconnected. She added that addressing these challenges requires strong trust, open and constructive dialogue, and joint action among the countries of the region.