WATER DIPLOMACY OF UZBEKISTAN AND REGIONAL SECURITY ISSUES

Аннотация

The article reviews the foreign policy of the Republic of Uzbekistan in the field of transboundary water use in recent years. Particular attention is paid to the achievements of Uzbekistan's water diplomacy and its future tasks. In addition, new challenges related to the use of transboundary waters in Central Asia and the issues of the "Koshtepa" canal being built by Afghanistan were also discussed. Keywords: transboundary waters, water diplomacy, international law, UN, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Central Asia. Today, the issue of providing the population with water is more important than ever in the Republic of Uzbekistan. Geographically, Uzbekistan is located in Central Asia, one of the water-scarce regions of the world. This region, including Uzbekistan, is characterized by a growing economy, population, and environmental threats. According to analytical data from international organizations such as the UN and the World Bank, the population of Central Asia is expected to exceed 100 million by 2050. Uzbekistan is recognized as the country with the largest population (about 50 million people). The increase in population will also increase the demand for water resources in a proportional way [1]. According to the World Health Organization standards, today one person needs 50-100 liters of water per day for their needs, and according to data from “Uzsuvtaminot” JSC, this indicator in Uzbekistan is an average of 99.2 liters per person per day. The indicator looks like this in the regions of the world: 500 liters in Saudi Arabia; 450 liters in the US; 340 liters in Canada; 320 liters in Japan; 250 liters in the Russian Federation; Due to the high cost of water supply services in Western Europe, it varies from 130 to 180 liters; 10-20 liters in rural areas of Africa [2]. According to the Ministry of Water Resources of the Republic of Uzbekistan, 80 percent of Uzbekistan's water resources come from other countries, and 20 159 THEORETICAL ASPECTS IN THE FORMATION OF PEDAGOGICAL SCIENCES International scientific-online conference percent are produced domestically. Analyses show that by 2030, Uzbekistan may face a water shortage of 7 billion cubic meters [3]. Current conditions and future challenges related to water resources require the establishment of effective public governance in the field of water use in Uzbekistan. This requires the implementation of organizational and legal measures, the formation of a mass culture of rational water use, and the conduct of mutually beneficial water diplomacy with Uzbekistan's neighboring countries. In recent years, issues of increasing water use efficiency in Uzbekistan and continuing water diplomacy with neighboring countries have been implemented within the framework of strategic programs for the country's development. In particular, the tasks of ensuring the rational use of water resources, improving the culture of water use, and delivering fresh water reserves to future generations are reflected in the Development Strategy of New Uzbekistan for 2022-2026, the "Uzbekistan - 2030" strategy, annual state programs, and other documents. Efficiency indicators of water diplomacy of Uzbekistan Today, under the initiative of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Sh. Mirziyoyev, large-scale reforms are being implemented in every sphere. As a result of the initiatives and political will of our head of state, Uzbekistan's foreign policy has also taken on a new look. The Central Asian region has been identified as the most important region in Uzbekistan's foreign policy. It should be noted that this approach to Uzbek foreign policy has also had a positive impact on the peaceful resolution of transboundary water use issues in the region. As noted above, Uzbekistan meets 80 percent of its annual water needs through transboundary water resources. Uzbekistan is located in the center of the region, shares borders with all Central Asian countries, and has interactions with all of these countries on the use of transboundary waters. In the future, Uzbekistan will need to conduct effective water diplomacy with regional countries to meet the water needs of its growing economy and population. At this point, it is appropriate to mention some information about international legal documents in the field of water reserves and use of transboundary water resources in Central Asia: firstly, more than 60 percent of the region's freshwater reserves are mountain glaciers (one-third of which has melted in the last thirty years), and they are currently rapidly melting due to global climate change. According to scientists' forecasts, the melting of Central Asian glaciers will peak between 160 THEORETICAL ASPECTS IN THE FORMATION OF PEDAGOGICAL SCIENCES International scientific-online conference 2035 and 2055. By 2100, the region's glacier reserves are expected to lose 75 percent of their 2015 volume [4]; Secondly, the Afghan interim government is building the "Koshtepa" canal on the Amu Darya. Accordin