Uzbekistan requested South Korea ro revive Aral Sea

Salikhbayev said he plans to formally raise the issue at South Korea's annual forum with Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, and Tajikistan to be held in Seoul in December, reported South Korea's Yonhap news agency on Tuesday.

The Aral Sea, located between Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, is a symbol of man-made environmental and ecological disaster. It was about two thirds the size of South Korea until the early 1960s, but its water volume has decreased by 75 percent and the shoreline has receded up to 160km from its former shore, according to experts.

The cause was traced to the Soviet-era policy to divert two rivers which fed the Aral Sea to grow cotton in nearby areas.

With the wreckage of rusty vessels embedded in the sand where water once stood, the Aral Sea is nicknamed a "ship graveyard," and a growing number of residents in a town adjacent to it suffer from cancer, respiratory problems and other diseases as the now-dusty sea basin is heavily polluted, leading to poisonous air and drinking water.

"Uzbekistan and South Korea can step up cooperation in the medical and green growth sectors," Salikhbayev said in an interview with a group of South Korean reporters last week at his ministry.

"We hope South Korea will participate in the Aral Sea salvation project, especially in tap water purification and medical services for victims."

He said the five Central Asian nations have formed the International Foundation for the Salvation of the Aral Sea and held a summit among their leaders in April to discuss ways to resurrect the lake, Kazinform refers to BERNAMA.

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