А meeting of the Council of Heads of Founding States of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea

 On 22 April 2026 in Astana, under the chairmanship of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan K.K. Tokayev, a meeting of the Council of Heads of Founding States of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS) was held with the participation of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic S.N. Japarov, the President of the Republic of Tajikistan E. Rahmon, the President of Turkmenistan S.G. Berdimuhamedov, and the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Sh.M. Mirziyoyev.

During substantive negotiations conducted in an atmosphere of mutual understanding, trust, friendship, and constructive cooperation, the Heads of the IFAS founding states discussed a wide range of issues related to further enhancing cooperation in the Aral Sea basin.

The leaders of the countries emphasized the special role of IFAS as an important regional institutional platform for discussing and addressing key environmental, water, energy, and socio-economic issues in the region. In this regard, efforts will continue to improve the organizational structure and legal framework of the Fund, as well as to enhance its international profile.
The Chairman of the Executive Committee of the IFAS, A. Orazbay, informed participants about the progress of Kazakhstan’s chairmanship in IFAS for 2024–2026.

The Heads of State adopted the Astana Statement and signed decisions “On the Election of the President of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea”, “On the Progress of the Chairmanship of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea,” and “On Declaring 26 March the International Day of the Aral Sea, the Amu Darya and Syr Darya Rivers”.