Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov drew attention to the drought threat facing Lake Issyk-Kul and called on the international community to take “urgent action.”

According to a statement by the press service of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic, Japarov, speaking at the 81st session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly, drew attention to the drought threat facing Issyk-Kul, one of the most important natural heritage sites of both the country and the region.

Noting that rising temperatures and climate-related emergencies threaten agriculture, energy and food security, Japarov said: “Over the past 170 years, the water level of Issyk-Kul has fallen by nearly 14 meters, and over the past five years, the rate of decline has reached 7 centimeters per year. Today, this invaluable natural reservoir is under severe climatic pressure.”

Japarov recalled that Issyk-Kul receives its water from glaciers in the Tian Shan Mountains, noting that the number of rivers historically flowing into the lake has declined from 101 to 30, that more than 30 percent of the glaciers have melted over the past 70 years, and that approximately 20 percent of this decline has occurred in the last 7–10 years.

Calling for the establishment of a special “joint trust fund” to protect Issyk-Kul, Japarov said Kyrgyzstan would contribute $10 million to the fund from the state budget.

“We are not asking for aid; we are proposing a global partnership. Issyk-Kul is a legacy entrusted to our care,” Japarov said.

“The authority to impose sanctions should be granted only to the UN”

In his speech, the Kyrgyz president also addressed reforms of the United Nations, stressing the need to expand the UN Security Council (UNSC).

Japarov said it would be fair to grant 2 permanent seats to Africa, which has a population of more than one billion, and 1 permanent seat to Latin American countries. He added that he believed proposals from other countries seeking membership on the Council should also be considered.

Japarov emphasized that the authority to impose sanctions should rest exclusively with the UN, adding that in cases where UN decisions are systematically disregarded, the permanent members of the Security Council should refrain from exercising their veto power.

Pointing out that glacier melt poses a tangible environmental threat on a regional scale, Japarov invited all participants to the 2nd Global Mountain Summit, “Bishkek+25,” to be held in Bishkek on October 21–23, 2027, with the aim of seeking global solutions to the climate challenges facing mountainous regions.

 

Anadolu Agency