On February 6, 2026, the Minister of Natural Resources, Ecology and Technical Supervision of the Kyrgyz Republic, M. Mashiev, met with Dr. Simonetta Siligato, Director of the Multi-Country Office of the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) in Vienna, overseeing operations in Europe and Central Asia.
The meeting focused on strengthening cooperation in environmental sustainability and natural resource management.
Dr. Siligato briefed the Minister on UNOPS activities in the region, including the implementation of EU–Kyrgyz Republic and Kyrgyz Republic–Tajikistan subregional projects, highlighting the organization’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and effective project management.
The parties expressed readiness to cooperate in the following areas:
sustainable management of forest and water resources;
disaster risk reduction and prevention of natural hazards;
integration of biodiversity considerations into water resource management.
Minister Mashiev emphasized Kyrgyzstan’s special responsibility as a mountainous country to preserve its fragile ecosystems. He also highlighted the initiative of President Sadyr Japarov declaring October 23 as Snow Leopard Protection Day, recognizing the species as a national symbol.
Climate change challenges were also discussed, including the declining water level of Lake Issyk-Kul and broader regional water resource concerns. In this context, Kyrgyzstan expressed interest in cooperation within the framework of the Loss and Damage Fund, aimed at supporting developing countries vulnerable to climate impacts.
At the conclusion of the meeting, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening and expanding cooperation across all discussed areas.шему укреплению партнёрства и развитию совместных инициатив по обозначенным направлениям.
📌 Source: Ministry of Natural Resources, Ecology and Technical Supervision of the Kyrgyz Republic
