DUSHANBE, 20.06.2018. /NIAT «Khovar»/. The Founder of Peace and National Unity — Leader of the Nation, President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon opened International High-level Conference on International Decade for Action “Water for Sustainable Development”, 2018-2028 that kicked-off in Dushanbe today.

The conference is attended by heads of states and government of Pakistan, Turkmenistan and Afghanistan. Over 1500 delegates from more than 100 countries and dozens of international and regional organizations are taking part in the Conference’s work.

It should be noted that the new International Decade for solutions to drinking water problems is the fourth creative initiative of the Tajikistani side. To address these challenges the UN General Assembly adopted with consensus a resolution which was co-sponsored by its member states.

Therefore, on the eve of Navruz celebrations and World Water Day, 22 March 2018, the Implementing process of the global initiative of our republic — the International Decade for Action: «Water for Sustainable Development, 2018-2028» was launched..

At the outset of his address, the head of state Emomali Rahmon welcomed conference participants, in particular the heads of state and government, representatives of the delegations, top leaders of influential organizations and associations.

The President of the country Emomali Rahmon noted that following the results of today’s event, held in cooperation with the UN and other partners, effective practical steps will be developed to implement the internationally agreed goals and objectives in the field of water resources.

It was also expressed confidence that today’s conference will provide an opportunity to prepare concrete recommendations on the topic of the forthcoming meeting of the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, where the SDG 6 will be discussed.

It was stressed that we are embarking on the promotion of the new Decade with a very useful experience in the implementation of previous global water initiatives.

It should be noted that over the past fifteen years in this direction Tajikistan has increased its joint efforts in the framework of global initiatives, such as the International Year of Freshwater, 2003, the International Decade for Action «Water for Life, 2005-2015» and «International Year of Water Cooperation, 2013». All these initiatives have made a valuable contribution to deepening our understanding of the irreplaceable role of water for life on our planet.

Following completion of his address, the Founder of Peace and National Unity — Leader of the Nation, President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon expressed his hope that the participants of the conference, using the present opportunity, will make their worthy contribution to the development of concrete practical recommendations for the effective implementation of the goals of the new Decade.

The opening ceremony of the conference was also addressed by the UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs Liu Zhenmin, President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Mamnoon Hussain, Chief Executive of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Dr. Abdullah Abdullah,  World Bank Regional Vice President for Europe and Central Asia Cyril Muller, the President of the United Nations Economic and Social Council Marie Chatardova, the Chair of UN-Water, the President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) Gilbert F. Houngbo..

Miroslav Lajcak, President of the United Nations General Assembly delivered his video message during the High-level International Conference on the International Decade for Action «Water for Sustainable Development, 2018-2028».