OREANDA-NEWS. On 06 May 2009 was announced, that the heads of states - founders of the International Fund for Saving Aral Sea (IFAS) have instructed the IFAS Executive Committee in collaboration with the Interstate Coordination Water Commission, the IFAS Interstate Commission on Sustainable Development, involving national experts and donors, to develop a program of action to assist countries of the Aral Sea Basin for the period 2011-2015 years (PASB-3). This was announced in a joint statement adopted at the Aral Sea summit in Almaty on 28 April.

The statement says the IFAS will further improve its institutional structure and legal framework, and cooperate with UN agencies, including the UN Regional Center for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia situated in Ashgabat.

The states - founders of the FAS also reaffirmed their interest in reaching a mutually acceptable mechanism for the integrated management of water resources and environmental protection in Central Asia, taking into account the interests of all states in the region.