Ismail Dairov, director of the "Regional Mountain Center of Central Asia" and former advisor to the Minister of Economy of Kyrgyzstan, has called on President Sadyr Japarov to enhance the country's participation in regional environmental cooperation and to consider the possibility of chairing the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS). He emphasized that an active position from Kyrgyzstan could strengthen regional partnerships, attract international projects, and protect national interests in the areas of water resources and climate policy.
According to Dairov, despite the announced course towards debureaucratization, many strategic issues remain inadequately addressed. This is especially true for international environmental cooperation and water resource management, where decisions directly impact the country's interests.
As a specialist who has dedicated his life to ecology and climate, Dairov noted that since 2016, Kyrgyzstan has been in a "frozen" status within the framework of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS), and in more than three decades of independence, it has never held the position of chair of this organization.
Chairing the IFAS is not a formality; it opens real opportunities for the country, including attracting donor funds, international investments, and implementing environmental projects in the region, which helps strengthen ties with Central Asian countries and enhance Kyrgyzstan's authority on the international stage.
Dairov has been raising this issue for many years and appealing to the authorities by sending letters and articles, yet systemic solutions have not been adopted, and the problem remains relevant.
In April, a summit of the IFAS will take place in Astana with the participation of heads of state, along with a regional environmental summit. These events are important platforms for discussing issues of ecology, water resources, and climate challenges. If Kyrgyzstan does not take the initiative and adopt an active position, the chairmanship may pass to another country, leading to a loss of financial flows and projects.
It is particularly important now for professionals to engage in such matters. There is a shortage of experts in Kyrgyzstan in the fields of regional environmental cooperation, water diplomacy, and climate policy, which can result in formal statements without concrete actions.
Kyrgyzstan is interested in deepening cooperation with neighboring states, but this should manifest not only in words but also in real initiatives and leadership in key areas.
In the near future, the president of the country will participate in international environmental forums. It is crucial that Kyrgyzstan's position is clear and based on national interests and professional expertise.
For this reason, Dairov emphasized the need to convey this information to the president and urged attention to the issues of the country's participation in the IFAS and regional environmental cooperation.
He is confident that timely actions in this area can strengthen Kyrgyzstan's position on the international stage, expand cooperation, and ensure sustainable development in the region.
