COMMONALITY OF VIEWS, RELATIONS AND COOPERATION ON THE PATH OF INTERNATIONAL INITIATIVES OF TAJIKISTAN

“To date, the transition period has ended, and the Republic of Tajikistan has moved from the stage of restoration and reconstruction to the stage of sustainable development. Of course, at this stage, serious problems await us, however, despite this, we have all the conditions and opportunities for moving towards sustainable development. Most importantly, at the start of such a fateful stage, we rely on the trust, confidence and strong will of the noble people of all our beloved Tajikistan”

Emomali Rahmon

A responsible initiative is a sign of strong intelligence and high human development, especially a leader. Leader of the Nation argues with such an evidence base for the implementation of initiatives that every word has a place to be heard on the world stage. For decades, the world community has witnessed the effectiveness of international actions and proposals of the Founder of Peace and National Unity, the Leader of the Nation of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, respected Emomali Rahmon.

1. The initiative of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan to declare 2003 the International Year of Fresh Water, proposed during the 54th session of the UN General Assembly (October 1, 1999). On the basis of this initiative, on September 20, 2000, at the 55th session of the UN General Assembly, a resolution was adopted declaring 2003 the year of fresh water. The International Forum on Fresh Water was held in Dushanbe from 29 August to 1 September 2003.
2. Initiative of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan on the proclamation of 2005-2015 by the International Decade of Action “Water for Life.” In accordance with the Dushanbe Declaration, on December 23, 2003, the UN General Assembly adopted a corresponding resolution and declared 2005-2015 the International Decade of Action “Water for Life.”
3. Declaration of 2013 as the International Year of Water Cooperation.

In 2013, the international community recognized UN General Assembly resolution 67/204 on the holding of the International Year of Water Cooperation, the initiator of which was the Republic of Tajikistan. On February 11, 2013, at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris, the ceremony of declaring the International Year of Water Cooperation was held, where the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan took part and reported.

4. The proposal of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan to declare 2018-2028 the International Decade of Action “Water for Sustainable Development.” On December 21, 2016, the UN General Assembly adopted a relevant resolution and declared 2018-2028 the International Decade of Action “Water for Sustainable Development.” This initiative was initially put forward by the Founder of Peace and National Unity – the Leader of the Nation, President of the Republic of Tajikistan on April 12, 2015 at the World Water Forum in Daegu, Republic of Korea.

The initiative was supported by the UN General Assembly during the adoption of the resolution (A/RES/71/222). According to resolution (OP3), the period from 2018 to 2028 is declared the International Decade of Action “Water for Sustainable Development,” which began on March 22, 2018 and will end on March 22, 2028.

In June 2018, after the official launch of the start of the aforementioned Decade in New York on World Water Day (March 22) on June 20-22, 2018, a high-level international conference on the implementation of the International Decade of Action “Water for Sustainable Development, 2018-2028” was held in Dushanbe with the participation of high-ranking representatives of UN member countries, international and regional organizations and other stakeholders. The Conference addressed a wide range of water-related issues.

The results of the Conference gave new impetus to the implementation of the aforementioned decade. In addition, the Dushanbe Conference, held on the eve of the regular meeting of the UN High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (July 9-18, 2018), which considered the Sixth Sustainable Development Goal, has become a timely and important basis for developing specific recommendations in order to strengthen measures to achieve water goals and targets. At the end of the Conference, the final document was adopted – the Dushanbe Declaration.

And here is a new initiative, the announcement of 2025 as the International Year for the Protection of Glaciers, the effective implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, the presentation of the Green Economy Strategy for the period up to 2037, as well as the measures taken by the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan to eliminate potential risks to the national economy are more than relevant.

The initiative to create an International Fund for the Protection of Glaciers was announced twice in Geneva at the third Global Forum on the Environment (August 31 – September 4) and in Copenhagen at the 15th Conference of Supporters of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (December 7-8) in 2009.

In March 2021, during the first meeting of the leaders of the coalition on water climate, the Leader of the Nation, President of the Republic of Tajikistan, Emomali Rahmon announced the melting of glaciers along with an increase in water consumption, which depends on population growth and economic development, leading to negative consequences.

To focus international attention on this climate issue, it was proposed to define 2025 as the International Year for the Protection of Glaciers and create an International Fund for the Protection of Glaciers. During the 77th session of 14 December 2022, the United Nations General Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution:

– declaration of March 21 as International Day for the Protection of Glaciers;

– declaration of 2025 by the International Day for the Protection of Glaciers;

– creation of an international trust fund at the UN to promote the protection of Glaciers;

– Holding the International Conference on the Protection of Glaciers in Dushanbe in 2025.

It is noteworthy that March 21 is the feast of Navruz-equinox day, the beginning of the new year for more than 300 million inhabitants around the world. In 2009, at the General Assembly of the 64th UN Session, at the initiative of the Republic of Tajikistan and other interested states, Draft Resolution A/64/L was submitted for consideration. 30, “Navruz International Holiday.” Since February 23, 2010, Navruz has been included in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Mankind as a cultural tradition of many peoples, marking the first day of spring and the renewal of nature.

A holiday that promotes the promotion of the values ​ ​ of peace and solidarity between generations and families, as well as good neighborliness, which contributes to the preservation of cultural diversity and the strengthening of friendship between peoples. As for the definition of 2025 by the International Year for the Protection of Glaciers and the creation of the International Fund for the Protection of Glaciers, historians have already called the resolution unique, since it includes both the announcement of the International Day and the International Year. The next initiative of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon was supported by 153 UN member countries.

The geography of the republic is unique. In Tajikistan, half of all glacial zones of Central Asia are located. They occupy an area of ​ ​ more than 8.5 thousand square km. The low average annual temperature of the mountainous regions of Tajikistan and high rainfall contribute to the accumulation and formation of snow fields and glaciers. Due to significant differences in physical and geographical conditions, varieties of glaciers are distinguished. In a row with snow plains and fields on the slopes of some levels, as well as large glacial zones, various types of small glaciers are widespread. The main part of the glaciers is located on the territory of the peaks of Ismoil Somoni and Lenin, occupying more than two-thirds of the total glaciation zone. In the western part of the republic there are not high enough elevations, therefore, despite the precipitation falling in the area, the process of forming glaciers is impossible here. Due to the comparatively low rainfall in the Eastern Pamirs, there are also not many glaciers.

The initiatives of the Founder of Peace and National Unity, the Leader of the Nation, respected Emomali Rahmon, have made a valuable contribution to the correct understanding of water-related issues and challenges at the global level and their solutions for economic and social development, environmental sustainability, peace and stability and overall sustainable development. The Republic of Tajikistan, taking into account the increasing attention of the world community to water issues and the importance of water resources, has managed to expand water issues on the world agenda in order to achieve sustainable development of this vital resource.

As a result, the UN and thousands of scientific experts agree that all previous initiatives made by the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan are timely and appropriate, since the catastrophic consequences of climate change will soon affect the entire population of the planet Earth. Taking action to combat climate change is a matter for every individual person and all peoples, proposing proposals in the international arena means taking on enormous responsibility, which means acting first. Every manifestation of humanism on the part of the Founder of Peace and National Unity, the Leader of the Nation, the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, respected Emomali Rahmon, is a matter of special pride for us Tajiks.

SHARIFKHODZHAEVA S.A.,

Dean of the Faculty of

 Diplomacy and Politics