DUSHANBE, 22.03.2018. /NIAT “Khovar”/. The Founder of Peace and National Unity – Leader of the Nation, President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon took part in the opening of the launch event of the International Decade for Action «Water for Sustainable Development, 2018-2028» in the UN headquarters, New York.

The session was attended by Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, Vice Presidents of the 72nd session of the UN General Assembly, Mahmoud Saikal (on behalf of Miroslav Lajčák, the President of the 72nd Session of the UN General Assembly), President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon and other international experts and Permanent Representatives to the United Nations .

In his opening remarks, the Vice President of the 72nd session of the UN General Assembly Mahmoud Saikal noted about the Decade objectives and United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres highlighted significant global initiatives of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, Emomali Rahmon. He also shared his impressions following his visit to the Republic of Tajikistan.

On the occasion of the launch of the International Decade for Action, «Water for Sustainable Development», 2018-2028, the President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon delivered remarks as the initiator of new Decade.

As today’s event coincides with the 25th anniversary of the World Water Day, the head of state Emomali Rahmon expressed confidence that this event will open a new chapter in the United Nations’ engagement aiming at seeking for and finding solutions to the most crucial global challenges related to the effective use and preservation of water resources.

The President of the country, Emomali Rahmon, noted Tajikistan’s previous efforts and implementation of important measures as the proclaimed in 2003 as the International Year of Freshwater, the International Decade for Action «Water for Life, 2005-2015» and 2013 as the International Year of Water Cooperation stressed that while implementing these initiatives, we gained a valuable experience that ultimately we believe will help us in tackling new and crucial water related goals and targets.

The Head of State, Emomali Rahmon, underlined that the International High-Level Conference on the International Decade for Action «Water for Sustainable Development, 2018-2028» which is going to be hosted by the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan in cooperation with the United Nations agencies and other partners in Dushanbe on June 20-22 this year will focus on the discussion of these and other topical issues of water cooperation.