The heads of diplomatic missions accredited in Uzbekistan, on April 4, arrived in Muynak, Karakalpakstan, to visit the cemetery of ships, the Museum of the Aral Sea History, and the plantations of Saksaul, to see the planting seedlings, Dunyo reports.
According to Acting Foreign Minister of Uzbekistan, Bakhtiyor Saidov, it was the first visit arranged for heads of diplomatic missions to present the Uzbekistan government's environmental restoration efforts and sustainable development in the Aral Sea region.
Heads of Diplomatic Missions visited #Muynak and #Nukus in #Karakalpakstan.
— Bakhtiyor Saidov 🇺🇿 (@FM_Saidov) April 4, 2023
Diplomatik missiyalar rahbarlari Qoraqalpogʻiston Respublikasining Mo‘ynoq va Nukus shaharlariga tashrif buyurishdi. pic.twitter.com/rJbNACLBNP
Swiss Ambassador to Uzbekistan Konstantin Obolensky shared his impressions of visiting the dry bottom of the Aral Sea, Dunyo reports.
'Obviously, what we see here is a serious environmental disaster, and only joint efforts can mitigate its consequences,' Ambassador said.
'It is essential that the state is dealing with such an important issue on its territory,' the envoy added, mentioning President Shavkat Mirziyoyev's initiative to create a green area of 1.73mn hectares on the dried seabed. As a result, the desert forest area is expanding day by day.
Konstantin Obolensky admitted that the UN had recognized this as one of the biggest disasters in the modern world. 'Therefore, the world community must deal with this issue using all the best technologies available today,' he added.
Head of the Representative Office of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in Uzbekistan, Munir Mammadzade, stressed the importance of continued commitment to restoring the region's ecosystem.
'For the first time, I had such an opportunity to visit the Aral Sea Region, although I often visited Karakalpakstan. But today, I saw the scope of the work done to eliminate the consequences of the Aral Sea disaster.
It is essential because we, the diplomats, are also part of this process; we cooperate with the Multi-Partner Human Security Trust Fund for the Aral Sea Region. In addition, UNICEF and other UN agencies are participating in field programs. As a result, the UN declared the Aral Sea region a zone of ecological innovations and technologies thanks to the initiative of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, supported by the partner countries and the UN General Assembly.
On our part, special attention is drawn to restoring the ecosystem in the region, reducing the impact of this ecological disaster on children, the younger generation, and young people.
In this regard, the work being done will yield significant dividends in the future. Our work together will help to ensure that the best interests of the local population are served.
We welcome the political will of the leadership of Uzbekistan to support the Aral Sea region, draw the global community's attention to the human problem, and mobilize State structures to create better living conditions for the local population', he said.
Kazakhstan's Ambassador to Uzbekistan, Beybut Atamkulov, hailed the Uzbek government's efforts to mitigate the negative impact of ecological disaster.
'Today, we visited the dry bottom of the Aral Sea; we drove about 150 kilometers - a vast area where we could see the results of the measures taken to mitigate the consequences of the ecological disaster. It is highly commendable that all this work is carried out under the direct patronage of the President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev. This is a considerable contribution to the region's development and the solution to the global environmental problem caused by the drying up of the Aral Sea.
As an Ambassador of Kazakhstan, I know this problem is also relevant to our country. And millions of Kazakhstanis, as well as in Karakalpakstan, are experiencing its negative consequences.
Today we have seen the work results on the dry bottom of the Aral Sea; green plantings have been planted in huge territories.
Nature heals itself, but it needs help. Therefore, I hope that all the steps that Uzbekistan takes will be fruitful and effective.
Ambassador said, 'We respect and support Uzbekistan's efforts to preserve the region's ecosystem and support the local population.'
In his turn, Ambassador of Turkmenistan Yazguly Mammedov wished success to Uzbekistan in its efforts to preserve our region's ecosystem.
'We came to Karakalpakstan today, visited the city of Muynak, visited the cemetery of ships.
We have seen the enormous work done in the region to establish forest plantations on the drained floor of the Aral Sea.
We wish success in this endeavor and hope that all these efforts will help preserve our region's ecosystem', Ambassador noted.
The Aral Sea disaster refers to the environmental and human catastrophe in Central Asia's Aral Sea region. The Aral Sea was once one of the largest lakes in the world, covering an area of about 68,000 square kilometers, but over the past few decades, it has shrunk to less than 10% of its original size due to human activities.
The disaster began in the 1960s when the Soviet Union diverted the two main rivers that fed the Aral Sea, the Amu Darya and the Syr Darya, for irrigation purposes. This led to a dramatic drop in the water level of the sea and the loss of its natural ecosystem.
The shrinking of the Aral Sea had severe consequences for the people living in the region. The disappearance of the sea led to a decline in fish stocks, and the salt and dust from the exposed seabed caused health problems for residents. The region also experienced extreme weather conditions, such as sandstorms, significantly impacting agriculture and human health.
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