Kyrgyz president stresses importance of “ecological security”

Text of report by Kyrgyz AKIpress news agency web site; subheading inserted editorially

Bishkek, 14 October: Kyrgyz President Askar Akayev has taken part in an international seminar entitled “Ecological security of Kyrgyzstan as a factor in the stable development of the Central Asian states” at which he presented a paper entitled ” Ecological security as a priority task in Kyrgyzstan’s national security system”.

Speaking about Kyrgyzstan’s ecological security, Akayev stressed its topical importance. First of all, the ecological systems of the mountainous areas, as has already been acknowledged by he international community, are especially fragile: they have become affected by human factors to a greater extent. Secondly, the ecological and economic impacts of ecological shifts in the mountainous areas go far beyond their boundaries and well into the plains and the countries situated in those areas.

Need to preserve water resources

The head of state pointed out that the preservation and replenishment of the natural resources of the Kyrgyz Republic, and above all, water resources, as well as the use of shared water resources by associate countries in a fair and rational way, could set the foundations for the sustained economic development of all the Central Asian states, turning the region into an area of peace and stability.

Akayev put forward proposals for a special mechanism to achieve a more efficient solution to ecological problems in the republic based on the use of an “ecological credits” system. This experience has successfully been implemented in 45 countries of the world, he said. At the end of the seminar the participants adopted a resolution.