CROSS-BORDER WATER USE PROBLEMS IN RUSSIA AND UKRAINE

There are objectively contradictions between the countries in the field of use and protection of the water resources of river basins belonging to their territory in the basins of Transboundary Rivers. This creates problems in interstate relations, not contributing to economically efficient and environmentally sustainable water consumption. This situation requires the search for objective criteria for assessing the situation and methods for reaching a compromise solution arranging the stakeholders. Lots depend on the economic level development of the contracting parties and diplomacy. Sometimes one state can yield some of its rights to water resources in exchange for any other economic or political benefits. For the implementation of agreements the Member States create joint commissions for the management of transboundary water bodies. Their decisions have legal force and are binding for the participants, but the agreements usually do not describe the mechanisms of impact in the event of their non-fulfillment. This is due to a considerable extent to the lack of established rules for the use of transboundary water bodies, as well as the inevitable measures of liability for their violation. It is considered that participation in international agreements on the use of transboundary water bodies is a good will of the countries.Conflict situations, related to water consumption, are dominant on the prevalence. One of the reasons for their occurrence is the unequal position of countries in relation to the areas of water formation and decrement. As a rule, the development of coordinated strategies for the use of the resources of transboundary water bodies and the resolution of their conflict situations are achieved through lengthy negotiations and consultations with experts. At the same time each party advocates first of all the interests, using all possible methods including any pressure for justification of the position. In cases where the understanding of the community of interests comes to the forefront, significant results can be achieved. For the purpose of settlement of the water relations on the cross-border rivers on October 19, 1992 in Kiev the Agreement between the Governments of Russia and Ukraine on sharing and protection of cross-border water objects which determined the basic principles of sharing of waters, coherences of water management actions implementation, the organizations of observations of a condition of a surface water was signed. The representative of Ukraine cabinet council for implementation of the agreement is the chairman of the Ukraine State water agency, the Representative of the Government of the Russian Federation – the head of Federal Agency for Water Resources of the Russian Federation; Deputy Representatives for implementation of the agreement in the basin of the river the Seversky Donets: From the Ukrainian side is the head of the Seversky-Donetsk basin water resources management, with the Russian side is the head of the Don basin water management. Regulatory documents have been developed for the implementation of the intergovernmental agreement: The order of works organization on water resources management in the Seversky Donets River basin; The program of joint quality control of water for hydrochemical and toxicological indicators; The order of interaction in emergency situations on transboundary water bodies. Despite the strained political relations between Russia and Ukraine, a comprehensive solution of environmental and resource problems in the basins of transboundary rivers, implementation of multifaceted investment projects, the development of the scientific and technical base and training of personnel should become important factors for the sustainable development of these states, and the expansion of their integration cooperation.

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