ABSTRACT OF THE THESIS

This study explores the problem of water disputes in the Syr Darya River basin, which has negatively affected interstate relationships within the riparian community. As the last ten years demonstrated, these disputes have gradually become and continue to serve as one of the main sources of tense relations between the riparian states of the basin. Despite the fact that the countries are recognizing the necessity to adjust their upstream-downstream relations, they have failed to cooperate on transboundary water resources of the watercourse system.

The study attempts to make a contribution to the solution of the water issue in the Syr Darya River basin by elucidating the following important points: (i) why transboundary water resources of the river have caused discord between the basin states, (ii) what have been the consequences of the water disputes, and (iii) how the conflicting interests of the upstream and downstream countries could be harmonized.

The research begins by introducing the conflicting interests of the upstream and downstream states in order to demonstrate that the disputes over the waters of the Syr Darya River basin flared up mainly because of a problem of equitable water use.

The study then shows that the lack of substantive cooperation on water management in the basin has resulted in economic damage for all the parties concerned and contributes to tense state relations within the basin.

Further, the research analyses the main treaties, which have been signed by the basin states over the last decade, in an attempt to identify those crucial factors that undermined the efforts of the co-riparians.

Finally, the study proposes some recommendations that might be useful in the sense that they could help resolve the disputes between the upstream and downstream states of the Syr Darya River basin.

The conclusion of this study is that insistence on sovereignty and independence by states involved in water disputes has negative results and leads to a situation where all parties lose.