DUSHANBE, March 3, 2010, Asia-Plus  -- A signing ceremony of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the United Nations Organization and the Executive Committee of the International Fund for Saving Aral Sea (EC IFAS) took place in the office of the United Nations Regional Center for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA) in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan on March 3.

According to press release issued by UNRCCA, the United Nations attaches great importance to sustainable development and regional security in Central Asia, including support for measures taken by Central Asian states to ensure comprehensive use of water resources in the region.

This memorandum is intended to facilitate the implementation of the accords reached at the summit of IFAS in April last year aimed at developing  collaboration with UN agencies, including the United Nations Regional Center for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia, strengthening regional cooperation, improving the ecological and socio-economic situation in the Aral Sea basin and assisting in developing a mutually acceptable mechanism of a comprehensive use of water resources and environmental protection in Central Asia with the consideration of interests of all states of the region.