Lessons on cooperation building to manage water conflicts in the Aral Sea Basin; Technical documents in hydrology: pc-cp series; Vol.: 11; 2003

“existing uses of water resources” and that the two river basin agencies (BWOs) 
should continue to perform basin management functions subject to control by the 
ICWC. Subsequently, the ICWC agreed that the 1992 agreement should remain in 
force until a Regional Water Management Strategy had been formulated that 
responded to new realities and which outlined more objective mechanisms and 
principles for water allocation and rational use. 
Later (in 1993), with the Aral Sea Basin Program extension, two new 
organizations were established. Those were: the Interstate Council for the Aral Sea 
(ICAS), set up for program coordination; and the International Fund for Saving the 
Aral Sea (IFAS), which had the purpose of raising and controlling funds. Later these 
two bodies were merged into one. In 1997 the following restructuring of existing 
interstate organizations was done: 
● 
ICAS and IFAS were combined and re-established into the new IFAS under the 
chairmanship of the president of one of five states, who is replaced every two 
years. 
● 
The executive committee of IFAS (EC IFAS) was established with responsibility 
for providing general coordination for the Aral Sea Program. 
The main objectives of the IFAS Executive Committee are: 
● 
to ensure practical implementation of the decisions of the heads of state 
● 
to implement appropriate projects and programs on the Aral Sea Basin 
● 
to coordinate the activities of branches located on the territories of the state-
founders 
● 
to facilitate ICWC activities 
● 
to expand interactions with international organizations, donor countries, and 
ecological and other funds to enhance solutions of environmental problems 
● 
to raise and allocate funds 
● 
to prepare documents and IFAS Board meetings, as well as conferences and 
meetings of the heads of state on the Aral Sea problems. 
The political level of decision in this hierarchy belongs only to the Board of IFAS. The 
most important issues can be decided only at the meeting of the heads of state 
followed by their recommendation/approval for IFAS. 
In January 1994, the presidents of the five Central Asian countries met in Nukus 
(Karakalpakstan) and approved a Program of Concrete Action to improve the 
environmental situation in the Aral Sea Basin and the region’s social and economic 
development generally. The Aral Sea Basin Program (ASBP) included eight thematic 
sub-programs, the first of which addressed formulation of a general strategy for water 
distribution, rational use, and protection of water resources. The first stage of this 
work was completed in 1997 by the presentation of the fundamental provisions of the 
water resources management strategy. As a further step, a new Global Environment 
Facility (GEF) Project with five components started in 1998. Component A-1 
addressed the finalization of the water and salt management strategy for the Aral Sea 
Basin, and its activity continues today. 
Finally the existing structure of the interstate organizations responsible for water 
resources management evolved over a considerable period (1991–1999), and the 
division of their responsibilities was confirmed by the heads of state in an agreement 
dated April 9 1999, signed in Ashgabad (Turkmenistan). These are described below 
(see also Figure 3, page 19). 
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2.2.1.1. International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS) 
The board members are the deputy prime ministers of five states. This is the highest 
political level of decision-making before approval by the heads of state (if 
appropriate). 
2.2.1.2. IFAS Executive Committee
This is a permanent body that includes two representatives from each state and 
implements the IFAS Board decisions through the IFAS National Branches. In addition, 
the executive committee of IFAS, on behalf of the Board, can establish agencies for 
various regional projects and programs implementation. (See Figure 3.)