Handling transboundary water problems by Russia and Kazakhstan

Russia and Kazakhstan have a lot of common water courses, administration of which requires searching for compromises. A number of transboundary problems have been accumulated which call for not only mutual beneficiary solution, but also for preservation of natural ecosystems, capable to carry out their ecological functions in the region and ensure ecological safety. The author brings out the problem of minor rivers value for supplying river ecosystems. The Ural, Bolshoi and Malyi Uzen, as transboundary rivers of Russia and Kazakhstan, their inflows - Ilek and Or' - and their condition are being analyzed.