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international

convention. When I analysed this convention, I
found that there are many mechanisms and many
procedures that already exist. The question is in
the practical implementation. Many donors and
many specialists from international organizations
underestimate it and do not understand how we
can benefit if we join this convention.

Today, have you retired or do you still work full
time?
I’m still the director of the regional mountain
centre. It is a regional organization established
under the international intergovernmental
organization of Central Asia, IFASS. The main workshops and seminars and try to explain the
problem in our region is that the diplomats have provisions of the Helsinki Convention.
a poor knowledge of international law. I have
many contacts with the diplomats for example Could you tell me a little bit more about your
within the Kyrgystan Ministry of Foreign organization, the Regional Mountain of Central
Affairs, and I ask them why we haven’t joined of Asia Mountain (RMCCA)?
the Helsinki Convention. The answer I get is that In 2008 I was appointed director of the Regional
it does not correspond to our national interest. Mountain Center of Central Asia, RMCCA, a
But what is our national interest? They say it’s position that I still hold. In 2017, the RMCCA
so complicated. I raised the same question to produced a regional Outlook on Adaptation
international lawyers from another country of Mountain Areas of Central Asia to Climate
in our region, and they don’t understand the Change, which was drafted in cooperation
specifics of environmental international law. with experts of Central Asian countries and the
So, it’s a big problem from my point of view. We UNEP, a report you can find on the internet in
need capacity building among the diplomats English. Since December 2019, I have also been
and lawyers. Of course they are oriented to the an adviser to the Kyrgyz Minister of Economy.
former Soviet approach.
In 2020-2021 I was working as a consultant for
Does your organisation provide courses in the CAMP4ASB project “Promoting political
international law? dialogue and capacity building for Central Asian
I’m preparing the project proposal for countries for the 26th Conference of the Parties
Kyrgyzstan’s candidacy to Helsinki Convention, to the United Nations Framework Convention
and within this project proposal I propose on Climate Change (UNFCCC COP-26)” I also
establishing a working group with the national work with them as a partner of another project on
experts from the Ministry of Foreign affairs, the climate change and biodiversity, and then the 30-
Ministry of Energy and the Ministry of Justice: year anniversary of ICSD is coming up.
let’s start discussing the possibility of Kyrgyzstan
joining the Helsinki Convention. How many people are working in your
organization?
The problems of the Syr Darya River and the My organization is a project organization, so
problems of the Amudarya River are in principle when I start a project I hire people. Right now,
the same, and there are many aspects from my we are just three – myself, my accountant and
point of view for which we need a common an assistant.
discussion. That is why I proposed yesterday
that we use the Ashgabat Convention and If you would like to know more about the work
draft a separate protocol for the Syr Darya and they are doing, or to read some of his articles, they
Amudarya Rivers. are available on the Internet. Upon this short note,
and leaving Mr Dairov to his meetings, we can
My first proposal was to our national authorities only wish him lots of success in all his endeavours.
that we discuss the issues, and then send an
invitation to international lawyers to conduct

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