Envoy of Uzbekistan underlined that there are alarming consequences of climate change in the region. He said that glacial cover of Pamir and Tian-Shian mountains are melting and they are main feeding sources of Amudarya and Syrdarya rivers.

He said that the region faces water shortage this year and it is negatively impact social-economic development, included to MDGs – from decreasing production of food to degradation of environment, as well as escalating of negative processes of ecologic crisis.

Murad Askarov recalled that once fourth largest inter-continental lake – Aral Sea – disappeared and turned to Aralqum – largest desert.

“In this connection, wise and rational use of water-energy resources is one of the most problems of Central Asian region Various and ambiguous approaches in this area are hindering to development and escalating ecologic catastrophe and other existing problems,” he said.

Envoy underlined that Central Asia should fully use basic international legal documents of the UN, regulating relations on joint water use. He said that the decision on use of trans-boundary rivers, including construction of hydro power stations, should not damage environment and interests of neighboring states.

He said that based on these common international legal principles and norms, Uzbekistan is against construction of large hydro power stations at upper courses of the trans-boundary rivers of Central Asia without taking account interests of lower course countries.

He recalled words of Uzbek President at MDG Summit in September 2010 that any attempts to realize projects on construction of large-scale hydro power stations with gigantic dams, which were developed in Soviet period, can make irretrievable damage to ecology and became reason for dangerous man-caused catastrophe.

Uzbek envoy said that Uzbekistan agrees with FAO statement that fresh water should be used for food production. He added that this is actual for Central Asia, the UN News Center said.