31 January 2010

UNESCO Centre expertise to boost development in Central Asia

Photo opportunity: 11am on Tuesday, February 2nd, at UNESCO Centre for Water Law, Policy and Science, University of Dundee. Tajikistan Ambassador Dr Erkin Kasymov and First Consul Ismatullo Nasredinov will be met by staff from the UNESCO Centre.

The University of Dundee’s expertise in water management could be vital in helping to power the development of the Republic of Tajikistan and its neighbouring countries, a fact to be recognised by an ambassadorial visit taking place this week.

Dr Erkin Kasymov, the Tajik Ambassador to the UK and Ismatullo Nasredinov, First Consul at the Embassy of Tajikistan, will visit the UNESCO Centre for Water Law, Policy and Science at the University on Tuesday, February 2nd.

They will be met by Professor Pat Wouters, Director of the Centre, and other key staff before embarking on a tour demonstrating the work being carried out in Dundee. The ambassador and consul will hold detailed discussions with Professor Wouters and her colleagues about how the Centre’s expertise can benefit Tajikistan.

The landlocked former Soviet republic is heavily dependent on its water resources for power generation - hence their desire to visit the UNESCO Centre at Dundee. The country is located in the Pamir mountains and is the source of one of the largest rivers in Central Asia - Amu Darya - which flows to the Aral Sea and crosses several boundaries on its way.

Tajikistanplans to build new dams and power stations in the upper reaches of its main transboundary watercourse. If these plans are realised, the electricity will also be exported to its neighbours Afghanistan and Pakistan. The World Bank and other donor agencies are supportive of Tajikistan's plans and have provided financial and technical assistance.

Professor Wouters welcomed the ambassadorial visit, saying, 'The Tajik visit builds upon the strong foundations established by the UNESC0 Centre over a number of years working with governments and organisations in central Asia.'

'Previously, this included a visit from the Tajik Water Minister, who signed a memorandum of understanding concerning cooperation in postgraduate teaching and education.'

'The UNESCO Centre is looking to recruit students from the country for the Water Law Water Leaders (WLWL) summer professional education programme, including via a possible link up with a UNESCO water centre based in Tehran.'

'Longer-term, we are keen to see WLWL teaching delivered at basin level in central Asia, including Tajikistan; this region being one of the Centre's top four geographical target regions strategically.'

The tour will also take in the Centre for Energy, Petroleum and Mineral Law Policy (CEPMLP), the student-entrepreneurship centre, the Enterprise Gym, and the renowned Drug Discovery Unit within the College of Life Sciences.

Tajikistanis a party to several regional agreements on the use of transboundary water resources of the Aral Sea basin.

For media enquiries contact:
Grant Hill
Press Officer
University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384768
E-MAIL: g.hill@dundee.ac.uk
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