Session Report - Water for Peace in the Middle East

Organised by Green Cross International

20 March 2000
Rapporteur's Name: Dr. Barbara HEINZEN

Presentation

This panel was organised in two sessions.

The first session consisted of statements from:
Mr. Mikhail GORBACHEV, President of Green Cross International
Mr. John FRYDMAN, Advisor to Prime Minister Barak of Israel
Mr. Kamel MAHADIN, Minister for Water and Irrigation, Jordan
Mr. Yousef HABBAB, Ambassador to the Netherlands, Palestinian Authority

The second session consisted of presentations from nine water experts active in the region.

Christian CUILLERY
CEO, Ionics, Inc. Europe

David GREY
The World Bank

Kamel MAHADIN
Minister for Water & Irrigation, Jordan in private capacity

Gerhard NASCHOLD
Director, Deutsch Gesellschaft fur Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ)

Wayne OWENS
Center for Middle East Peace and Economic Cooperation

Ayman RABI
Palestinian Hydrology Group

Uriel SAFRIEL
Blaustein Institute for Desert Research, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Israel

Hillel SHUVAL
Professor, Division of Environmental Sciences, The Hebrew University

Discussion

In the first session, Mr. Gorbachev reported on the results of a mission undertaken by Green Cross in the Middle East 3 weeks ago. This mission of 20 people included high level representatives from the public and private sectors in Europe, the United Sates and South America, among whom were Wayne Owens of the Center for Middle East Peace and Economic Cooperation and M. Yves-Thibault de Silguy from the Lyonnaise des Eaux. The group met with Prime Minister Barak, Chairman Arafat, and King Abdullah. All three leaders gave the mission a warm reception and supported the mission's suggestion that a group be established that can integrate public and private sector efforts around water. Mr. Gorbachev believes that this group will be set up in the next few weeks.

Minister Mahadin of Jordan described the grave water challenges which are already facing Jordan, exacterbated by the problems of refugees, displaced people and high population growth. "Water shortage is becoming permanent" in Jordan, he said, and a water deficit will continue to grow. There are possible elements for increasing water supplies: sea water desalination, desalination of brackish water and water imports, which can be discussed if all three parties work together. Some acquifers in Israel, Palestine and Jordan are already beyond repair. Water has already been used as a tactic in conflict elsewhere; in future it may become the point of the battle. King Abdullah said that everyone has a right to water and oxygen, so we need to think of water as an element of peace. Because we can no longer think only in terms of supply and demand, one of the first tasks in the region is to compile a glossary and Atlas of Water in the region, which will be available to all. We can also begin with small projects, such as a 50 MCM per year project. The commitment of Jordan is summarised by the presence of the Jordan delegation to this meeting. Jordan continues to collaborate wherever possible. The business of all will be to share water.

Mr John Frydman of Israel said that there will not be any peace in the Middle East without solving the problem of water. He believes, however, that the year 2000 will see the end of war. This is a moment of real change and real peace is approaching faster than people think. Water is the main element, but there is no national solution for water, only a regional solution. Europe established the idea of economic interdependence beginning with iron and coal, in order to avoid future wars. In the Middle East we can establish an interdependence based on water which will also avoid wars. If we do not do this in the next period, we are criminals. The Middle East will be a show case of what can be done elsewhere. We know we can do it. It needs political will, technology and money. All three exist in the Middle East. I repeat, we will arrive at peace this year, and this year we have to solve the problem of water.

Ambassador Yousef Habbab of the Palestinian Authority brought apologies from Nabil el Sharif, the Head of the Water Authority. He remembered talking with Mr. Gorbachev for 20 minutes in Madrid when much of this work for peace began. "You have touched the untouchable in this conference," and the conversation has been fruitful. The Palestinian side has suffered from this issue for a long time. Mr. Mahadin said that this is "not a national, but an international" issue, but we first need to solve the national issues. That is very important. The peace process is solvable if Palestinians have their own water sources defined and then different alternatives can be discussed,

The second session was organised around an Expert Panel, moderated by Dr. Barbara Heinzen. The session began with a presentation by Dr. Gerhard Naschold of the main points agreed by all three core parties involved in the GTZ study of water supply and demand in the Middle East. This study identified very starkly the nature of the challenge facing the region. The rest of the panel was then asked, in light of all the other efforts being made to resolve water problems in the Middle East the multilateral work, the bilateral talks and work at the national level what might the group described by Mr. Gorbachev do that would be unique and add value to these other efforts?

The strongest message from the Expert Panel was that Green Cross, functioning with inspired leadership, has been able to gather a unique coalition of academics, industry, NGOs and others outside of official circles who can work together. There is a clear need for a neutral body bringing together independent professionals in a multidisciplinary team to develop scenarios and options. "Changing the stakes and the stakeholders" was the phrase used by David Grey. Mr. Mahadin stressed again the importance of a water data bank while also urging that what is needed is a 'Fast Track scenario' that might develop project proposals to be taken up by the private sector. Two speakers from the private sector emphasised their willingness to bring their knowledge and technology to bear on the problem. More controversially, it was argued that it was time to question the need for every country to grow its own food, which requires copious amounts of water. 'Virtual water' in the form of imported crops allows existing local water to be used for highest economic benefit. The last speaker on the panel, Uriel Safriel, further suggested that water from the region should be used to generate those benefits that cannot be imported. The most important is water allocations to the environment which in turn supports all development.

Conclusion

Mr. Gorbachev concluded the session by stating that the ground work has been and the mechanisms for co-operation are clear. The efforts of the experts are very important and we need to bring in business, finance and governments. "It is important to move from discussion to action."

Actions

A group nominated by all three Core Parties will be formed in the next few weeks to take this work forward.