Fund Forum Office in New York and Permanent Mission of Uzbekistan at the UN with Institute for Research of Environment (USA) organized the event.

At the session “Aral Sea and its lessons for sustainability”, the participants familiarized with ecologic situation in the region, current state and trends in Aral Sea in recent years, as well as factors, which could worsen situation in the Central Asian region.

The documentary on Aral Sea was demonstrated at the event, which showed complex situation in the region, threats to population, demography and development. It also showed about efforts of Uzbekistan on mitigation of the crisis.

The participants also were informed about the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea, which marks its 20th anniversary in 2013.

At the letter to the 67th session of the UN General Assembly, it was said that Uzbekistan first came up with the initiative to unite the efforts of the region and the international community to overcome the consequences of the Aral Sea crisis, maintain the ecological balance of the area and create a clean environment for the population, the letter reads.

The letter said that in 2013, the location of the Executive Committee of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea will move to Tashkent for three years.

At the session, it was underlined that Aral Sea problem shows wrong attitude of human to environment. It was said that water area of tAral Sea decreased seven times and the volume of water fell by 13 times.

The event also included a photo exhibition “Aral Sea: journey through the lost and sad beauty”. The exhibition presents images of Aral Sea and consequences of the crisis.