TASHKENT DECLARATION

for the UN Special Progamme for the Economies of Central Asia (SPECA)

The Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Republic of Tajikistan, and the Republic of Uzbekistan on the one side, and the UN Economic Commission for Europe (ECE) and the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific on the other,

recognizing the communality of economic development interests of the Central Asian states

recognizing the need for further strengthening of economic ties among Central Asian States (CAS) and expressing a willingness to integrate the CAS economically with Europe and Asia,

declare their intention to adopt the UN Special Programme for the Economies of Central Asia (SPECA) and to begin its implementation.

The objective of the Programme is to support the CAS in developing their cooperation, creating incentives for economic development and integration into the economies of Europe and Asia.

The implementation of the programme will be based on coooperation and reciprocal benefit, transparency and equality of countries - participants with the support of donor countries and international organizations.

As the first stage of the programme implementation, the following priority areas have been recognized:

  • development of transport infrastructure and simplification of procedures for the transfer of goods, services and labour resources through national borders

  • rational and effective use of energy and water resources of Central Asia

  • international economic conference for Tajikistan, common regional development strategy and attraction of foreign investment

  • regional cooperation in developing a multi-choice approach to the routes of hydrocarbon supply through pipelines to the world market

The list of cooperation priority areas can be extended upon agreement of the Parties.

In order to ensure a successful implementation of the agreed programmes in the framework of SPECA and mobilization of additional resources, the CAS and UN Regional Commissions call other states and UN System agencies, supporting states, donor countries, and international financial organizations, as well as the private sector, to provide financial and other types of assistance to the Programme.

In order to provide for rapid implementation of the Programme, the Governments of the SPECA participating countries, jointly with the ECE and ESCAP, as well as the UN Resident Coordinators in thecountries shall prepare and agree on the organizational arrangements of the Programme, decide on its financing mechnisms and implementation guidelines.

The SPECA participating countries express gratitude to Mr. Kofi Annan, UN Secretary General, for supporting this initiative of the Central Asian states and for mobilizing UN resources for these purposes.

For the Republic of Kazakhstan N. Nazarbaev
[signed]

 

For the Kyrgyz Republic A. Akayev
[signed]

 

For the Republic of Tajikistan E. Rahmonov
[signed]

 

For the Republic of Uzbekistan I. Karimov
[signed]

 

For the UN Economic Commission for Europe Y. Berthelot
[signed]

 

For the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the PacificA. Mooy
[signed]