This morning, the Founder of Peace and National Unity – Leader of the Nation, President of the Republic of Tajikistan, His Excellency Emomali Rahmon received a message of congratulations from the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, which reads in particular:

“Excellency,

I have the honor to extend my sincere congratulations on the occasion of the adoption by consensus of United Nations General Assembly resolution 71/222 entitled “International Decade for Action, ‘Water for Sustainable Development’, 2018-2028”, which was sponsored by the delegation of the Republic of Tajikistan.

I believe this new Decade will be a significant step in building support and momentum for a rapid start-up of the implementation of the water-related Sustainable Development Goals and targets. It will strengthen and enhance the progress achieved during the “Water for Life, 2005-2015”.

It also will complement and reinforce other initiatives, including the High-level Panel on Water, and can serve to fill current and emerging gaps in the realization of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration.”