Today Ashgabat will host the International conference, “Role of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea in Developing Cooperation in the Central Asian Region”. President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov sent his welcoming address to the participants of the forum organized as part of Turkmenistan’s chairmanship in IFAS. “The state environmental strategy implemented by our country is targeted at harmonizing the development of society and nature, and creating the ecological environment”, states the message. Turkmenistan pursues the balanced domestic and foreign policy whose objectives include environment protection; ensuring environmental well-being and rational use of water resources.” As stated further, in this context our country continues fruitful cooperation with reputable international and public organizations – the UN Development Programme, the Environment Programme, the Economic Commission for Europe; the Global Environment Fund; the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea; the Regional Environmental Center for Central Asia, and the German Society for International Cooperation. Turkmenistan regards the environmental conventions, treaties and programs, approved by the UN and effective both on regional and international level, as global agreements aimed at addressing environmental issues, said the head of state. The Turkmen leader stressed that our country actively participates in the global efforts to protect environment and ensure environmental well-being. Together with the countries, Turkmenistan continues the effective work on all environmental issues, and primarily on the matters related to climate change. By the decision of the heads of state of the Central Asian countries in 1993, due to the urgent need to improve the environmental situation caused by the shallowing of the Aral Sea, the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea has been created. According to the IFAS Regulations, Turkmenistan will be chairing the Fund in 2017-2019. The main objectives of our country’s chairmanship in the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea are the improvement of the socio-economic and environmental situation in the countries of the Aral area; ensuring the rational use of water resources and the high level of environment protection in the region, stated President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov. The message reads: “As the country chairing the IFAS, Turkmenistan will make maximum effort for the comprehensive and sustainable raise of the Fund’s international profile, and will take all necessary measures to strengthen its significance in fighting global natural disasters. Our independent state, together with the countries of Central Asia, plans to develop a new assistance program for the countries of the Aral area, placing a special emphasis on the political, organizational and legal aspects of the document. In turn, at the first stage this will facilitate the works on development of water diplomacy. Also, in connection with implementation of the set objectives, multidimensional conferences and training workshops are scheduled to be held in the Central Asian countries. Turkmenistan’s successful addressing organizational issues of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea will stimulate the active participation of the region’s countries in the planning of the policy for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. We will continue focusing on resolving the issues of environment protection and improving the environmental situation of the region surrounding the Aral Sea”.